AG: More victims possible in ex-Weissport police chief case

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    Gregory Wagner Jr., left; and Brent Getz.

Published April 03. 2019 01:09PM

<p>By Amy Miller</p><p>amiller@tnonline.com</p>

 

The Pennsylvania attorney general says that there may be more victims in the case of the former Weissport police chief who, along with his friend, is accused of raping a child hundreds of times over a seven-year period.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro released a statement Wednesday afternoon regarding an update to the case against Brent Getz, 27, and Gregory Wagner Jr., 28, both of Lehighton.

“This investigation is ongoing, and my office believes there may be other victims,” Shapiro said. “We encourage anyone with information about this case to call a special Carbon County Sexual Abuse hotline that my office has set up. You don’t have to be afraid to come forward.

“We want to hear from you.”

Getz and Wagner are both charged with rape of a child; conspiracy, rape forcible compulsion; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child; conspiracy, IDSI forcible compulsion; aggravated indecent assault of a child; conspiracy, aggravated indecent assault without consent; and indecent assault person less than 13 years of age.

Wagner also faces charges of simple assault and sexual exploitation of children.

The investigation into Wagner began in May 2012 when the victim, who was 12 at the time, reported to a substitute teacher that she had been sexually assaulted by Wagner. At the time, the report was sent to Franklin Township police, but no charges had been filed.

In 2015, the case was reassigned and charges against Wagner were filed, but they were dismissed by a magisterial district judge due to a paperwork error and charges were never refiled.

In August 2018, Franklin Township police again revisited the case, and the victim also disclosed that Getz had sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions while with Wagner. The victim, during the time of the assaults was between 4 and 11.

The case was transferred to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office by the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office because of Getz’s employment with various police departments in Carbon County.

Both Getz and Wagner are currently lodged in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 straight bail, and are scheduled to have a preliminary hearing April 15 before District Judge Edward M. Lewis.

If you are a victim of either of these men, contact the special Carbon County Sexual Abuse Hotline at 267-768-3957.

 

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Just cut off both there little weiners n lock them up at no cost to the taxpayers.
This story really disgusts me! The fact that this innocent little girl finally took a chance and told someone what was happening to her. That person did the right thing by reporting it--then--the police (after interviewing the little girl) simply ASKED the guy if he did it and he denied it so they just took his word for it and dropped the case (meanwhile--this little girls abuse was allowed to continue on). THEN--years later --it was again brought before the court but dropped BECAUSE THE PAPERWORK WASN'T DONE CORRECTLY and so the abuse continued on for more years for this poor little girl. A little girl that is 9-10 years old does not know these kind of details about sex to make this up! They may know what sex is but this little girl knew details that no little kid would or should know. It started happening when she was 4 so she probably thought for many years this was normal. The fact that law enforcement and everyone involved allowed this to slip through the cracks for so long is horrible! This little girl will never go on to lead a normal life no matter how much counseling she receives.
Absolutely, unacceptable behavior by the ones who are sworn to protect and serve. So very sad for the now teen who this happened too! I am a survivor of sexual trauma at a very young age. I pray that she does find counseling and EMDR Therapy, to help her process the horrific things that were done to her. I am not an angry person but the more I think about all the injustices done to innocent children, makes me want to have some batting practice. And on the other side, my heart has compassion for the ones who perpetuate these crimes because they may have been victims of sexual abuse as well. May this young girl have the courage to continue to speak her truth and put these creeps away for a long time.
1 thing that really bothers me is this scumbag probably loved busting people around the towns he worked in for the same crimes. Like a cop who loves busting drug dealers, but is himself selling drugs on the street. I'd like to say he's getting "JUSTICE" while in jail, but he's probably in protective custody. We'll have to wait until this little fish swims into the state penn, then he will get hell on earth from the other inmates, being an x-cop and a pedophile.
how did this happen you may ask? Law enforcement incompetence. From reading the articles and press releases issued by the AG so many are guilty of dropping the ball on this case, for years. When our towns hire "part-time" officers, so we don't have to pay health benefits, this is what we get. Neighboring states have minimum requirements and extensive background checks before hiring new personnel. Many departments have 2 or 3 hundred on their waiting lists. Here in our state a HS diploma is good enough for one to carry a badge and gun. Seems like our standard is "who you know" that gets one hired. You can't tell me that Weissport officials didn't hear about this chief's past accusations. And they still hired him at $18.50 an hour PART TIME gig. No wonder the drug dealers flock to the Mayberry area of PA
In this area we have some really questionable police officers including the lehighton police and the state police.

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