Former New Jersey Mayor Sentenced In Child Sex Trial
The former mayor of Marlboro, New Jersey, Matthew Scannapieco, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in May to sexually abusing a child. CBS News reports that the 71-year-old man entered a guilty plea in order to avoid a possible life sentence, but he was given a quarter of a century after admitting to raping a 6-year-old girl over a span of at least three years of her life.
The former New Jersey mayor reportedly committed the sex crimes while he was awaiting sentencing on another series of crimes he committed. Scannapieco reportedly committed tax evasion. He also reportedly accepted approximately a quarter of $1 million in bribes from various land developers. Over the course of the sentencing phase for his two prior convictions, he admittedly victimized a small female child sexually. Nonetheless, his attorney requested that he only be given a 15-year sentence.
The judge who handed down the 25-year sentence expressed the concern that Matthew Scannapieco showed no remorse for his crimes, even though he has apologized for his vile actions. Now, the former New Jersey mayor will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life — however long that may be.
The Star Ledger reports that the convict was given the maximum sentence for his crime in the state of Delaware. His attorney has argued that this is a life sentence for the 71-year-old diabetic, but his comments have not been met with sympathy from the court. However, the judge did show sympathy for the victim of the former Marlboro mayor’s sexual abuse. The victim, who is now 16-years-old, has been spared from the requirement of having to testify against the man. That’s thanks to the guilty plea entered by the convicted corrupt politician.
This is not the only time a politician has been convicted, or even simply accused of crimes against children. Back in 2014, former Virginia Delegate Joe Morrissey admitted to fathering a child with an underage girl named Pride. In 1989 Republican congressman Donald Lukens became embroiled in a scandal when he was accused of paying an underage girl for sex. Another Republican congressman by the name of Daniel B. Crane was accused of having sexual relations with more than one teenager in the 1980s as well. He was censured by congress, and went into the field of dentistry. In 1966 William Janklow — a former Governor of South Dakota — was accused of raping his children’s teenage babysitter. This was not the first time he had gotten in trouble for sexual assault. Back in 1955 — when he was only 16-years-old— the man was convicted of raping a 17-year-old teen.
[Photo: New Castle Sheriff’s Office mugshot]
