‘Predator’ jailed for child sex assault
NORRISTOWN >> A judge told a Pottstown man that if a dictionary included photographs, his likeness would be found under the word “predator.”
“You are a predator. You groomed a 12-yearold young girl to be your next sex toy. You victimized a defenseless, 12-year-old child,” Montgomery County Judge Wendy G. Rothstein sternly addressed Michael John Hilbert on Monday as she sentenced him to 15 to 30 years in a state prison for having indecent contact with a child while the girl was in his company on multiple occasions in 2018.
“Your conduct was disgusting and despicable,” Rothstein said. “I find you pose an immediate and direct threat to the public.”
Testimony and court records revealed Hilbert, 54, of the 400 block of East High Street, has a previous conviction for having indecent contact with a young woman in 2005 in East Greenville for which he served a sentence of 22 to 59 months in the county jail.
“This man needs to be completely cut off from society,” said Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ringwood, who argued for the lengthy prison term. “He groomed this child and violated her in numerous ways.”
Under a limited agreement, prosecutors agreed to not seek more than a minimum term of 15 years against Hilbert in exchange for his guilty plea, in order to spare the child from having to testify at trial and re-live the “trauma” she experienced.
Hilbert knew the girl’s family and the incidents occurred between April and June 2018 while the
girl was in Hilbert’s company at locations in Pottstown.
The judge said Hilbert also must complete 15 years of probation following parole, meaning he will be under court supervision for 45 years. Hilbert, who will be under sex offender supervision, also faces a lifetime requirement to report his address to state police in order to comply with Pennsylvania’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. Hilbert, who pleaded guilty to three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault in connection with the incidents, did not react to the sentence. However, before learning his fate he apologized for his conduct. “I’m very sorry. This wasn’t supposed to happen but it did. I feel so down right now. I’m very sorry this even happened,” Hilbert said. In a letter to the judge, the victim’s mother said it is “painful” to know that her daughter is “hurting” as a result of Hilbert’s assault. Directly addressing Hilbert, the victim’s mother wrote, “How dare you?” Defense lawyer George Griffith Jr. asked the judge to consider Hilbert’s cooperation during the investigation, his age and recent medical issues he’s had since being locked up after his arrest. “Mr. Hilbert realizes that he committed a terrible act in this instance. He understands that his actions do not come without consequences,” Griffith argued, adding Hilbert cooperated and gave a thorough statement to Pottstown Detective Heather Long at the time of his arrest. In the criminal complaint, Long indicated the investigation began in June 2018 when the victim’s mother discovered inappropriate text messages between Hilbert and the girl and she reported it to police. The victim subsequently disclosed that Hilbert had inappropriate sexual contact with her on multiple occasions, according to the criminal complaint. When Hilbert was interviewed about the allegations, he admitted to touching the girl inappropriately and having other indecent contact with her and being “sexually aroused” by the contact, according to court papers and testimony.