CLEARFIELD: A Shawville man has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a young child and attempting to pressure the victim into recanting her statements.

Michael L. Lutz, 49, formerly of Philipsburg, appeared in Clearfield County Court on Monday, where Judge Paul E. Cherry sentenced him to five to ten years in state prison, followed by three years of re-entry probation. Lutz pleaded guilty to felony aggravated indecent assault and intimidation of a victim.

As part of his sentence, Lutz must complete sex offender counseling and is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with any female under the age of 18. Although a psychological evaluation determined that he does not meet the criteria for a sexually violent predator, he is still required to register under Megan’s Law.

Before issuing the sentence, Judge Cherry harshly criticized Lutz, asking, “What is a grown man doing with a child of that age? It’s reprehensible.” Lutz’s attorney, Domenic Cicchinelli, responded that his client would not be answering any questions.

Details of the Case

Lutz was initially facing multiple felony charges, including seven counts each of child rape and aggravated indecent assault, as well as additional charges of witness intimidation, corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to court documents, Lutz allegedly attempted to manipulate the victim into recanting her statements by offering her gifts. He reportedly promised the child a bicycle, a pool, and a trampoline if she told investigators she had fabricated the allegations against him.

His wife, Nicole Marie Lutz, 44, was also charged with felony witness intimidation and endangering the welfare of a child. Prosecutors allege she made similar offers to the victim, warning that their family would “lose everything” if the child did not change her story. She waived her preliminary hearing in September 2023, but there are no public updates on her case at this time.

Victim’s Allegations and Investigation

The case came to light in May 2023 when the young victim disclosed the abuse to a teacher. During an interview at the Clearfield County Child Advocacy Center, the girl stated that the abuse began when she was four years old and continued for six years. Some incidents allegedly took place while she was home sick from school and alone with Lutz.

During his interview with investigators, Lutz denied wrongdoing and attempted to shift blame onto the child. According to court records, he claimed that she initiated inappropriate contact and tried to place his hand on her private area. He also alleged that she engaged in suggestive movements near him, though he insisted he told her, “No, we can’t do this.”

Investigators say Lutz later called the victim, offering her gifts if she agreed to say she had lied about the abuse. According to reports, Nicole Lutz also pressured the girl to change her statements and admitted to investigators that she and her husband had made such offers.

Authorities continue to monitor the case, with further legal proceedings expected regarding Nicole Lutz.