HONESDALE, PA — Janine Edwards, Wayne County District Attorney, announced ON October 5 that Michael Thomas Schwartz, 35, and Jamie Lynn Schwartz, 29, were sentenced to periods of lengthy incarceration in a state prison. The couple was found guilty of numerous child sexual abuse charges on July 17 by President Judge Raymond L. Hamill in a non-jury trial. Michael was sentenced from 12 years and 5 months up to 45 years in jail; Jamie was sentenced to 11 years  to 40 years.

The convictions were essentially the same for both defendants. They included Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Statutory Sexual Assault, Indecent Assault, Indecent Exposure, and Corruption of Minors.

These charges stem from abuse of two male children, both under the age of 14, at the Defendants' home in Damascus Township. Michael Schwartz instructed the children to never tell what happened because they had a "circle of trust."

Jamie had sexual contact with the children at the instruction of and with the physical assistance of Michael. Hamill found both Defendants to be and both will be required to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives.

District Attorney Janine Edwards thanked the Pennsylvania State Police, the Wayne County Children and Youth Services, and Assistant District Attorneys Patrick L. Robinson and Deborah E. Rothenberg. Edwards said, "We have a team in Wayne County that works well together in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse.  This case is a very good example of that teamwork."

First Assistant District Attorney,  Patrick  L. Robinson stated, "This is a truly bizarre case with a unique set of facts. The long term damage done by these two defendants to these two children is incalculable. The Defendants' sick and abhorrent conduct is inexcusable.  Michael and his ‘circle of trust’ may unfortunately result in these children never being able to trust anyone in the future."