A Carbon County man admitted in the county court on Monday to raping a young girl repeatedly over a seven-year period, and is now facing a state prison term of at least 10 years.

Gregory Edward Wagner, 30, of Lehighton, entered guilty pleas before Judge Joseph J. Matika to one count each of rape of a child, felony 1, and sexual exploitation of children, felony 2. The charges were filed by the office of the Attorney General, who took over the case because Wagner’s co-defendant in the case, Brent Getz, 29, of Lehighton, is the former police chief of Weissport.

Because of his affiliation with the police, the then county district attorney, Jean A. Engler, recused herself from the prosecution and asked the Attorney General office to take over. Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Anne Elo is prosecutor.

The commonwealth accused Wagner of raping the girl hundreds of times.

Getz, Wagner’s friend, is also accused of having sex with the girl.

Getz case pending

In a plea agreement with the AG office, the remaining criminal counts were dropped. The commonwealth agreed to a state prison term of 10 to 20 years. Wagner will cooperate with the commonwealth in the prosecution of Getz.

Sentencing was deferred so the state sexual offenders assessment board can evaluate Wagner to determine if he is a sexually violent predator. Sentencing is set for Feb. 9, 2021. Wagner has been in the county prison since arrest on the charges in 2019.

Case history

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by the AG’s office, the investigation began in May 2012 after ChildLine, Children and Youth Services, received a complaint that an 11-year-old child reported that when she was left alone with Wagner, he touched her inappropriately, and the child was afraid. She also reported years later that she had been repeatedly raped by Wagner and Getz several times a week, starting when she was 4. At the time of the rapes, Getz and Wagner would both have been teenagers.

Children and Youth Services notified Franklin Township police, who made arrangements for the child to be interviewed by the Children’s Advocacy Center in Scranton.

On May 16, 2012, the victim was interviewed on video by a forensic interviewer. She said that Wagner, on multiple occasions, touched her inappropriately. She also said that he offered her $5 to have sex with him, which she declined, and that he has also shown her pornography on his laptop.

In 2015, the case was reassigned and charges against Wagner were submitted to the district court, but they were unable to be filed due to the charges being invalid. Valid charges were not resubmitted.

In August 2018, a Franklin Township police officer revisited the case and interviewed the victim.

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

Getz was also incarcerated when he was first arrested but has since been released on bail.