He was convicted in 2001 of having sex with 4yo girl. The Mayor of Crawford county borough is standing by its volunteer fire company re-election of a registered sex offender as its fire chief.

Chief Roger Gilbert jr. pleaded guilty in 2001 to sexual intercourse with a 4yo girl. Court records show Gilbert is a felon who completed a 5-10y sentence for "involuntary deviate sexual intercourse".

Mayor Ann Louise Wagner says she and the firefighters have been aware that Gilbert who has been volunteering in the fire dept. since 2010, is a sex offender.

Her words; "I support the fire dept. and their decision to have him as chief. The firemen have always elected their own officers and that's how it's always been done. We don't question their decisions."

Gilbert, now 43yo, says he has changed his life for the better since committing the crime in 2000. "That was 20 years ago" Gilbert said. "I've changed my life for the better. Every day I get up and try to do good."

***(My thoughts) As a mother of a 4yo girl reading this article broke my heart.

****Do you guys think they went to easy on him? Should he be working in the fire dept? Or please share your thoughts.