Mayor defends fire company's choice of sex offender as chief

SPARTANSBURG, Pa. — SPARTANSBURG, Pa. (AP) - The mayor of a tiny northwestern Pennsylvania town is standing by its volunteer fire company's election of a registered sex offender as its fire chief.

The (Corry) Journal reported Saturday that Chief Roger Gilbert Jr. was convicted in 2001 of sexual intercourse with a 4-year-old girl and is listed on the state's Megan's Law database.

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Mayor Ann Louise Wagner says she and firefighters have been aware Gilbert, an unpaid volunteer with the department since 2010, is a sex offender.

Gilbert received a five- to 10-year prison sentence, which he completed.

The 43-year-old unpaid volunteer tells the Journal he has changed his life for the better and now spends "every day helping people."

The victim's mother told the Journal he shouldn't be in a job where he could interact with children.

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Information from: The Journal, http://www.corrypa.com/journal

Associated Press