Medical Lake Man’s Rape Case Not His First He Avoided Prison In 1991 For Rapes Of Girls Because He Seemed Treatable

Thu., Aug. 14, 1997

By Adam Lynn adaml@spokesman.com

A Medical Lake man accused of raping a 10-year-old girl was convicted of similar crimes six years ago, according to court records.

George Bartz, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree statutory rape in October 1991 as part of a deal worked out with Spokane County prosecutors.

A story in Wednesday’s Spokesman-Review incorrectly reported Bartz had no felony record.

Bartz originally was charged with two counts of first-degree rape of a child in the 1991 case. Authorities say he sexually assaulted two 10-year-old girls for more than a year.

Bartz pleaded guilty to the lesser charges in exchange for a sentence that included no prison time.

Prosecutors, defense attorneys and the judge agreed Bartz was a good prospect for sex offender treatment, according to court records, and his 48-month prison sentence was suspended.

He instead was placed on 24 months of community supervision and ordered to register as a sex offender and undergo therapy.

Bartz also was prohibited from having contact with children without another adult present.

Bartz was arrested last week and charged with another count of first-degree child rape. Detectives say he abused a 10-year-old neighbor girl for nearly a month last spring.

He is being held in the Spokane County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

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