News
NYC Cop Marries Oregon Teen Amid Sex Charges
Published: Sep 27, 2003 - 10:38 PM
PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - A New York City police officer faces child sex charges even though he married the Oregon girl he allegedly molested after giving a speech about the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"We will definitely still prosecute," said Eric Hsu, Deputy District Attorney in Linn County, Oregon, where Matthew De Gennaro, 32, allegedly photographed himself having sex with a 17-year-old high school student from Corvallis, Oregon.
"We will definitely still prosecute," said Eric Hsu, Deputy District Attorney in Linn County, Oregon, where Matthew De Gennaro, 32, allegedly photographed himself having sex with a 17-year-old high school student from Corvallis, Oregon.
An 11-year police veteran, De Gennaro was arrested in New York on Sept. 5 and charged with depicting a child engaging in sex acts and two counts of encouraging child sexual abuse, charges that could land him in prison for 70 months.
De Gennaro met a group of four girls at Corvallis High School in May 2002 while on a nationwide speaking tour, including the 17-year-old he later married. She is now 18.
"Several young women were interested in him," Corvallis Police Capt. Robert Deutsch told Reuters by telephone.
After swapping e-mails with all four, De Gennaro became more involved with one girl, leading to phone calls and a return visit to Oregon in August 2002, where the two met at a Holiday Inn in nearby Albany, Oregon.
The now-suspended policeman documented the ensuing tryst in photographs and came back to visit the girl again in April, Deutsch said.
The girl's mother found five photographs, one very explicit, and contacted the FBI, which passed the information to the Corvallis Police Department.
Although the new Mrs. De Gennaro might not be forced to testify against her husband under Oregon law, Hsu told Reuters prosecutors had "other evidence we can establish. We won't let this affect the case at this point."
De Gennaro, whose attorney could not be reached for comment, was not part of an official New York Police delegation, Deutsch said, but was invited to Oregon by fire and police officers who met him in New York while volunteering at the World Trade Center site.
The girl now lives in New York, having married De Gennaro after he was indicted, Deutsch said.
At his arraignment on Wednesday De Gennaro entered no plea, which is equivalent to a "not guilty" plea, and is free on bail, Hsu said.
He was ordered by the court to have no contact with his new wife and is slated to appear again in county court on Nov 3.
De Gennaro met a group of four girls at Corvallis High School in May 2002 while on a nationwide speaking tour, including the 17-year-old he later married. She is now 18.
"Several young women were interested in him," Corvallis Police Capt. Robert Deutsch told Reuters by telephone.
After swapping e-mails with all four, De Gennaro became more involved with one girl, leading to phone calls and a return visit to Oregon in August 2002, where the two met at a Holiday Inn in nearby Albany, Oregon.
The now-suspended policeman documented the ensuing tryst in photographs and came back to visit the girl again in April, Deutsch said.
The girl's mother found five photographs, one very explicit, and contacted the FBI, which passed the information to the Corvallis Police Department.
Although the new Mrs. De Gennaro might not be forced to testify against her husband under Oregon law, Hsu told Reuters prosecutors had "other evidence we can establish. We won't let this affect the case at this point."
De Gennaro, whose attorney could not be reached for comment, was not part of an official New York Police delegation, Deutsch said, but was invited to Oregon by fire and police officers who met him in New York while volunteering at the World Trade Center site.
The girl now lives in New York, having married De Gennaro after he was indicted, Deutsch said.
At his arraignment on Wednesday De Gennaro entered no plea, which is equivalent to a "not guilty" plea, and is free on bail, Hsu said.
He was ordered by the court to have no contact with his new wife and is slated to appear again in county court on Nov 3.
