EMPORIUM (EC) — An Emporium man was sentenced Tuesday in Cameron County Court to serve ten to twenty-four months in a county jail after pleading guilty last year to four felony charges including statutory sexual assault.

Matthew Scott Kriner, 27, entered open guilty pleas to felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors in November of last year, but sentencing was postponed as Kriner had to undergo the Sexual Offenders’ Assessment, and to allow for completion of a pre-sentencing investigation.

Kriner was charged following a July 2015 incident in which he was accused of having inappropriate physical contact with a 14-year-old juvenile female inside a parked vehicle.

An open plea means that no sentencing recommendations were negotiated, and sole discretion on sentencing falls to the judge. Sides present testimony in support of both sides to determine if there are aggravating or mitigating factors to consider, and the judge sets the penalty within sentencing guidelines provided by state law.

Several members of the Bikers Against Child Abuse group escorted members of the victim’s family into the courtroom and sat with them throughout the proceedings, which included testimony from supporters of both the victim and perpetrator.

A family member of the victim spoke on her behalf, saying, “He has gone on living his life as usual and can move on. (The victim) can never move on…. There’s not punishment enough to get back what he took from (the victim) that day.”

The relative stated that the girl missed nearly thirty days of school last year due to negative feelings and being bullied by other students because of the incident, and that she now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares and panic attacks. The victim and her mother entered impact statements dealing with the trauma that resulted from the incident.

A number of individuals spoke on Kriner’s behalf, testifying to his dedication to family and his military service. Kriner served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, was wounded in action and later honorably discharged.

Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Franz, who represented the Commonwealth, argued that Kriner’s military service should not be used as a mitigating factor “because his time in the service should have instilled in him a better sense of right and wrong and of justice.”

“There is no question to this court that a period of incarceration is necessary,” Cameron County President Judge Richard Masson told Kriner during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing. “This sentence is meant to provide (the victim) with security until at least her age of majority that you will be in prison or on parole, and then on probation for an extended period afterward.”

Masson stated that the maximum penalty that could be imposed was 39 years in prison and up to $95,000 in fines, if the crimes were determined to fit the aggravated criteria.

Kriner was sentenced to serve not less than ten months, but not more than 24 months less one day in a county facility, to be determined by the Cameron County Sheriff for the charge of aggravated indecent assault. Masson did give approval for academic release in order for Kriner to complete courses at Triangle Tech through his graduation date in October, at the discretion of the jail warden where he is committed.

For the charge of unlawful contact with a minor, Kriner was also mandated to spend 10-24 months in a county jail, with the sentence to run concurrent with the above sentence.

Following release on those charges, and serving time on parole till the end of the two-year incarceration period, Kriner will be maintained on probation for five additional years. He must also pay a $1,000 fine, all associated costs and fees, provide a DNA sample, and participate in Project Point of Light, a sex offenders’ treatment program.

“You victimized one of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Masson. “Society as a whole must be protected from these behaviors by you.”

Masson imposed a special condition that Kriner was not to have any contact with the victim or her family, nor was he to allow any friends or family members of his own to make contact.