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Guilty Plea Entered in Old Forge Sex Abuse Case

SCRANTON — A former volunteer firefighter involved in the Old Forge child sex abuse scandal pleaded guilty in Lackawanna County court. Walter Chiavacci ad...

SCRANTON -- A former volunteer firefighter involved in the Old Forge child sex abuse scandal pleaded guilty in Lackawanna County court.

Walter Chiavacci admitted molesting a teenage girl several years ago.

Chiavacci pleaded guilty to indecent assault, a second degree misdemeanor charge, marking a big win for the prosecution in the Old Forge sex abuse scandal.

The former volunteer firefighter is one of three people charged in the Old Forge sex abuse case that involved a teenaged girl.

Chiavacci pleaded guilty to having indecent contact with the victim in 2004. 

Also charged in the case are suspended Old Forge Police Chief Larry Semenza and suspended Police Captain James Krenitsky.

In Chiavacci's plea, he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify against Semenza and Krenitsky if needed.

The prosecution calls Chiavacci's guilty plea a big win, and says it gives their case credibility. They say, more importantly, it means the young woman may not need to testify.

“I don't think it's easy for a victim in any case to talk about the most intimate details of their life, so what today did was spare her at least one of those times when she would have to get up and testify. Because, again, there is now no dispute that this happened exactly the way she stated it did,” said Assistant D.A. Mariclair Hayes.

Walter Chiavacci's sentencing is deferred and he is out on probation.

He could eventually face up to two years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

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