Matthew Scannapieco: Former New Jersey Mayor Admits Raping 9-Year-Old Over 60 Times, ‘Disgusted With Himself’

The former mayor of Marlboro, New Jersey, Matthew Scannapieco, 71, left the city after he faced corruption charges when he took almost $250,000 in bribes. Hoping to get "a fresh start," Scannapieco moved to neighboring Delaware. However, it appears his idea of a fresh start involved repeatedly molesting a 6-year-old girl.

Matthew Scannapieco has already served nearly two years in prison or bribery and tax evasion convictions. Now, it is likely that he is never getting out of prison for the rest of his life after he pleads guilty to the continuous rape of a minor.

According to the Delaware Department of Justice, as reported by New Jersey's Asbury Park Press newspaper, earlier this year, Matthew Scannapieco was charged with first-degree rape as well asirst-degree unlawful sexual contact.

The former respected mayor left office in 2003. In 2005, he moved to Middletown, Delaware, where he continuously raped the young girl, who was only identified as a relative. The sexual abuse reportedly began as soon as the disgraced public official moved into his new house and split with his second wife.

Matthew Scannapieco continued the unlawful sexual contact for three years, and stopped when he went to prison in 2008 for the corruption charges. When he got out in 2010, he abused the girl for the last time, according to The Inquisitr.

It was only last year that the now-teenage victim had informed her mother of what took place between her and Matthew Scannapieco a few years ago. The victim's mother reported the abuse to the police and later on Scannapieco admitted to detectives the rapes between 2006 and 2008. He also identified the number of times he had sexual contact with the young relative, which was between 50 and 60 times, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Matthew Scannapieco now faces a term of between 12 and 58 years in jail for the first-degree rape charge, depending on the judge's decision. However, it appears the once-respected politician will go to prison for the rest of his life.

T. Andrew Rosen, Matthew Scannapieco's lawyer, said that the ex-mayor "is disgusted with himself" over the sexual abuse of the underage girl. However, what was unusual was that Scannapieco reportedly never displayed any outward signs of paedophilia. There were no signs of child pornography in his home and the female relative also appears to be his only victim.

Matthew Scannapieco is currently in custody on a $238,500 bond. His sentencing for the sexual abuse charges is scheduled on September 4 at the New Castle Superior Court in Wilmington, according to nj.com.