ROCKLAND — An 18-year-old Rockland man was sentenced Feb. 23 to five years in jail with all but nine months suspended, for sexually assaulting two girls last summer who were 12 and 13 years old at the time of the incident.

Matthew Nathaniel Boegel, pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual contact and two counts of assault. Two counts of gross sexual assault were dismissed. He was sentenced by Justice Joyce Wheeler in Knox County Unified Court.

Boegel was also sentenced for theft at the Rite Aid store in Rockland and two counts of violating conditions of release. He received an additional sentence of 90 days in jail for these charges.

In total, Boegel with serve a year in jail, serve three years of probation and pay $13.99 in restitution.

Boegel will also be placed on the sex offender registry.

The terms of Boegel’s probation stipulate that he cannot have contact with anyone younger than 16 years of age. He will also undergo a polygraph test, only for sexual offender counseling.

Boegel was arrested Sept. 30 by Rockland Police and charged with two counts of sexual assault. He made his first court appearance Oct. 3 in Knox County Unified Court and Judge Susan Sparaco set Boegel’s bail at $2,500 cash.

Boegel was initially charged by police as a minor for the alleged assault and was given a juvenile summons for the offense. He was not subject to any conditions and had contact with the victims. During an encounter, he asked one of the victims why she “ratted on him,” according to the police affidavit.

On Sept. 24, Rockland police received additional information about an incident that allegedly occurred Aug. 3 at a pool party. Police interviewed the two female victims, one of whom hosted the pool party. They confirmed that Boegel was an invited guest and described the details of the alleged assault which happened after the party. 

Boegel was charged as an adult for gross sexual assault because it was confirmed that the alleged incident occurred after he turned 18 on July 17. According to the court documents, police believe that Boegel knew that he was 18 at the time of alleged assault and chose not to reveal this fact to them. 

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com.