Child rapist/fire chief resigns after his story goes viral
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Despite having the support of the town mayor and some members of the community, Roger Gilbert Jr is stepping down as chief of the Spartensburg (PA) Volunteer Fire Department and is leaving the department where he’s been a member for 25-years.
According to yourerie.com, Gilbert says he has made the decision because of concerns about safety for his family after they received death threats. The threats began after a local paper, The Corry Journal, published a story about Gilbert’s criminal past on Saturday. That story was picked up by the Associated Press and has since been published by news organizations around the world.
Previously: Community divided over PA fire chief who who raped a 4-year-old girl
He raped a 4-year-old girl and he’s a fire chief in Pennsylvania
Gilbert served a 10-year sentence for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a four-year-old girl. The crime occurred in September of 2000. Gilbert rejoined the department after his release from prison and rose through the ranks serving as both assistant chief and was recently elected to his second term as chief.
Gilbert told JET 24, “My family and our community are being attacked. I didn’t want that to continue. All I have done for 18 years is good things. But outsiders are tearing us up. I felt the best thing to do was back away.” Gilbert says besides resigning as chief, he has also resigned from the fire department.
About his situation, the former fire chief said…” It seems you can never do wrong and do good again.”
