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Release Date: September 25, 2006
Contact: Joseph I. Cassilly, State's Attorney, 410.638.3500, or Email statty@harfordcountymd.gov
PIANO TEACHER PLEADS GUILTY TO SEX OFFENSE
David Barry Mentzer of Joppa, Maryland, entered a guilty plea today before Judge Emory Plitt of the Circuit Court for Harford County, to one count of a third degree sex offense, involving the molestation of a 12 year old boy who was a piano student of his wife. Mr. Mentzer was arrested in March of 2006, after the child disclosed to his parents that Mr. Mentzer had been molesting him for several months while other family members were taking piano lessons at the Mentzer home in Joppa. The matter was investigated by the Harford County Child Advocacy Center. During the investigation, Mr. Mentzer made several statements to the police where he admitted to the molestation.
Mr. Menzer was twice previously convicted of a sex offense involving a child. He was convicted in 1981 in Kentucky of a sex offense involving a child, and in 1987 in Harford County of a sex offense involving a child. Because of his record, Mr. Mentzer is subject to a sentencing enhancement and faces the possibility of life imprisonment for this charge. The plea agreement did not involve an agreement on sentencing, and the State will be seeking life imprisonment for Mr. Mentzer. Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2006.
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