Former Antioch-area firefighter pleads guilty to sex assault charges
A former Antioch-area firefighter pleaded guilty in Lake County court to one count of sexual assaulting a teen he allegedly represented as a modeling manager.
Matthew Bielecki, 44, of the 43000 block of Mary Avenue in Antioch Township, was sentenced to 13 years in prison and was told to register as a sex offender for life following the Friday plea agreement in front of Judge James Booras.
Under the plea agreement, Bielecki is required to serve 85 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole. He was awarded 611 days credit for time he already served in Lake County jail.
Defense attorney David Weinstein and members of Bielecki's family did not comment after court Wednesday.
Bielecki has been held in Lake County jail on $250,000 bail since August 2012 after he was charged with sex crimes involving a 15-year-old female, authorities said.
Bielecki gave alcohol to and had sex with the victim while taking pictures of her for a modeling portfolio, authorities said.
About six months after his arrest, a second victim came forward with similar complaints that resulted in additional charges, authorities said.
Other counts of sexual assault and abuse from the two cases were dropped in court as part of the plea agreement.
Bielecki was facing life in prison had he been found guilty on all charges in both complaints.
It has been more than 10 years since he worked as a firefighter at the Antioch Fire Protection District and as an EMT at the Antioch Rescue Squad, officials said.