Man who attacked former prothonotary sentenced
WAYNESBURG – A man charged with attacking former Greene County Prothonotary Rich Rosendale, 68, during an attempted robbery at his business in Cumberland Township June 18 pleaded guilty and was sentenced Wednesday in Greene County Court.
Matthew Robert King, 35, formerly of Uniontown and Ford City, was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison.
He pleaded guilty to robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension, disarming law enforcement officer, unlawful restraint, two counts of theft by unlawful taking, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment. Because of the violent nature of his crime, King was not eligible for the state Recidivism Reduction Risk Incentive program. However, the court granted a commonwealth recommendation to waive King’s ineligibility. If the state Department of Corrections deems King appropriate to receive RRRI, the minimum sentence he could potentially serve is 50 months.
“This is just an incentive you can do to craft your own future. You can be paroled at 50 months, but you understand that I cannot promise you that,” said assistant district attorney Brianna Vanatta. “Because of the violent nature of what you did, I can waive your ineligibility but it is up to Mr. Rosendale to agree, the judge to accept it and the department of corrections (after that).”
Cumberland Township police officers responded to the report of a male being attacked at Rich’s Trading Post, 2117 E. Roy Furman Highway, Carmichaels.
Eric Smith and Tom Christopher, who were working across the street from Rosendale’s business at Route 21 Mobile Home Sales, told Cumberland Township Detective Tony Gizmondi they saw the attack, called police and went to Rosendale’s aid. He was found in the store’s restroom bound with electrical tape, which also covered his face and eyes.
Gizmondi used pepper spray and a Taser on King, who removed the Taser probes and ran up a hill where he was apprehended by other officers.
Rosendale was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., for injuries to his face and arm.
Outside of court Thursday, Rosendale said, “My life will never be the same. My eye healed up fine but my arm will never work the same way again.”
King told the court he was under the influence of heroin the day of the attack and admitted what he did was an act of desperation. King told Toothman he knew Rosendale from conducting business with him as a furniture salesman.
When asked what might motivate him to stay clean upon his release from prison, King said, “my son.”
“I regret my actions that day. I can’t blame it all on heroin,” he said. “I’m going to do the best I can to get back into my son’s life.”
Addressing Rosendale, King said, “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t consider what I’ve done to you. That was extremely wrong of me. It was out of my character and I regret ruining your life, not only your life but my son’s life,” King said. “I’m sorry and I hope someday you can forgive me.”