Town Elected Convicted Child Rapist as Fire Chief, So America Fired Back to Stop It and It Worked
Spartansburg, PA elected a convicted pedophile as their fire chief. The mayor voiced her support for the firemen’s decision to appoint the pedophile as their superior. But a national outcry from good people had an amazing effect.
By Jack Burns
TheFreeThoughtProject.com
February 13, 2018
Spartansburg, PA — The tiny town of Spartanburg (pop. 300) became the focal point of the nation’s ire this week as the town elected a convicted pedophile as their fire chief. It didn’t seem to matter that Chief Roger Gilbert Jr. is listed in the state’s Megan’s Law database for raping a 4-yr-old girl, a crime for which he was convicted in 2001, the town incredulously elected him as their top fireman.
The move caught national attention and backlash from citizens all across the country who were outraged at the thought someone who so cruelly abused an innocent soul was chosen to help citizens in their most distressing times. They don’t just fight fires. Firemen are first-responders, often arriving on scene before police even in cases where sexual abuse may have occurred.
More dumbfounding to some is the fact the mayor voiced her support for Gilbert’s appointment. Appearing to take a hands-off approach to her position as the small town’s leader, Mayor Ann Louise Wagner reportedly said:
Following up her support for the convicted child rapist, the mayor said of the victim’s mother, “I don’t know why she won’t drop this.”
In all fairness to the town, it was fellow firemen who actually elected Gilbert, not the townspeople. But strangely enough, it was Gilbert’s second term, not his first, which drew national attention. The fire chief served a 5-10 year prison sentence and worked for 10 years as a volunteer fireman before being elected chief. And while the town took the position he was fit for the job, others were not convinced, including his young victim’s mother.
She reportedly remains convinced Gilbert should be in no position to interact with children, whatsoever. Apparently believing he’s served his debt to society, Gilbert commented on his appointment as chief.
That was 20 years ago…You know, the story you are telling kids is once you make mistake, you will be punished for the rest of your life. I’ve changed my life for the better. Every day I get up and try to do good.
In the middle of the firestorm of controversy, Gilbert made the decision on Monday to resign his position as chief. It’s unclear whether he will continue with the fire department as a volunteer or find some other preferable employment. The town’s Facebook page has been temporarily deactivated, apparently resulting from the national outcry.
Justice hardly ever takes place for child rape, molestation, and abuse victims. Statistics reveal that rarely do the rapes get reported, even rarer are convictions of child rapists. The prison industrial system seems far more interested in imprisoning citizens for drug crimes than ones where an innocent child is harmed.
The Rest…HERE
