Weissport Police Chief Brent Getz and Gregory Wagner Sexually Assaulted Young Victim Hundreds of Times over Seven Years
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Shapiro today announced the arrests of two Carbon County men for child rape. Weissport Chief of Police Brent Getz, 27, and Gregory Wagner, 28, both of Lehighton, PA, were charged on Tuesday with Rape of Child, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child, Aggravated Indecent Assault of Child, and several related charges.
This investigation began in May 2012 when the victim, then 12-years-old, reported to a substitute teacher that Gregory Wagner, then 22-years-old, was sexually assaulting her. The teacher reported it to the Franklin Township Police Department and, after an investigation, no charges were filed at that time.
In 2015, the case was reassigned and police prepared a criminal complaint charging Wagner with various crimes. The complaint was rejected by the Magisterial District Judge due to a paperwork error. The charges were never refiled.
In August 2018, a Franklin Township Police Officer revisited the case and asked the victim to come back in for an interview. At this time, the victim also disclosed that Brent Getz, who was Wagner’s friend, had sexually assaulted her too. Getz is now the Chief of Police in Weissport, Carbon County.
The victim revealed that, consistent with her prior disclosures and examinations, from age 4-11 she was orally, vaginally, and anally raped by Wagner. She reported that Getz would also join in these assaults. Additionally, she said that Wagner often made her watch pornography with him, which she recalled depicted teenagers.
“The defendants terrorized this young victim by assaulting her hundreds of times over seven years,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “My Office will listen to survivors and prosecute anyone who sexually abuses children to the fullest extent of the law we are able—no matter how much time has passed. I’m grateful for the work of my agents to bring these predators to justice and prevent them from harming anyone else.”
Agents executed a search warrant of Wagner’s residence on March 26, 2019. They located numerous electronic devices, including his cell phone, which contained Google searches of terms which are indicative of child pornography.
Wagner was interviewed and admitted to sexually abusing the victim over the course of several years. He also admitted that Getz sexually abused the victim and that they would do so together.
The case of Brent Getz was referred to the Office of Attorney General by Carbon County District Attorney Jean Engler because Getz was a police officer employed or formerly employed at several police departments in Carbon County. The case of Gregory Wagner was also referred to the Office of Attorney General. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo.
# # #
