Man, 34, accused in attack on teen
Groton City police say registered sex offender attempted to abduct 16-year-old girl in June
Groton — City police have charged a 34-year-old convicted sex offender with attempting to abduct a 16-year-old girl June 25 near Shore Avenue and South Prospect Street.
Matthew Klotz of 113 Hewitt Road, Stonington, was charged with first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree kidnapping.
Police said the teenager was walking alone about 3 p.m. when Klotz, who had been hiding between bushes, grabbed her and tried to force her into a white GMC pickup truck. The teenager fought back, got away and was picked up by people who had witnessed the attempted abduction and took her to the police station. She told police she had scratched her attacker on the arms during the struggle. Investigators said they took nail clippings and scrapings from her that the state laboratory tested and confirmed contained Klotz’s DNA.
The victim also provided a detailed description of her attacker that helped Stonington Police Officer Thomas Wholean, a sketch artist, produce a sketch of the suspect that a neighbor of Klotz recognized, according to a court document.
Klotz has been in custody since June 28, when members of state police Troop G, alerted by Groton
City Police to be on the lookout for his vehicle, pulled him over on Interstate 95 south in Milford and executed search warrants on him and his vehicle. His cellphone had GPS directions to Florida, and Klotz later admitted he was planning to go to Florida and never return.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit written by Groton City Police Detective Daniel Grimm, the police had identified Klotz as a suspect and had him under surveillance at his home while waiting for search warrants. They watched him drive off after packing his car with bags and clothing and notified other departments to look out for his vehicle and to stop and hold him if located.
Interviewed at the Groton City Police Department, Klotz, who had shaved his head, told investigators he shouldn’t be on the streets and that he needed help. He said he didn’t remember anything that happened during the last week because he had been blacking out.
Adult Parole and Probation held him on a detention order while officers wrote the warrant for his arrest.
Police got the warrant Tuesday and on Friday formally served Klotz. He was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Daniel J. Klau, who set his bond at $500,000. Klau transferred the case to the court where major crimes are heard and continued the case to July 24.
Records show Klotz is a registered sex offender.
In 2000, at age 16, he was charged with breaking into his 88-year-old neighbor’s house and trying to sexually assault her. He denied the attempted sexual assault but pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary, receiving a suspended seven-year prison term and four years’ probation.
Klotz in 2012 was sentenced to eight years in prison followed by 12 years’ probation after he pleaded no contest to kidnapping, carrying a firearm and stalking. Police said he attempted to abduct a 20-year-old woman who was jogging in Narragansett, R.I., in October 2011.
In the Rhode Island case, Klotz hid in the bushes and attempted to get the victim into his car using a BB gun, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.
Klotz was paroled from the John J. Moran Medium Security Facility in Cranston, R.I., on April 3, 2017.
At his arraignment, attorney Dawn M. Bradinini from the public defender’s office said Klotz suffers from serious learning disabilities and multiple psychiatric issues and has been in and out of hospitals since he was 16 years old. She said his parents were in court and that his mother has been appointed to act as his conservator.
Prosecutor Sarah E. Steere asked for a high bond and said that if Klotz posts the bond, he should be on 24-hour lockdown on house arrest.
“The fact that the defendant had a very similar experience in Rhode Island is extremely disturbing,” she said.
Judge Klau said he was setting the bond at $500,000 based on the seriousness of the charges and the risk to public safety. Should Klotz make the bond, which his attorney said was not likely, the judge said he must post the bond in court. He ordered Klotz to have no contact with the victim and directed the Department of Correction to provide him with medical and mental health attention.