Spingler Won't Get Harsher Sentence In Fondling Case, Judge Says

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – After numerous calls for a harsher sentence for the former Radnor Township Commissioner, who was convicted of fondling a 103-year-old woman, a Delaware County judge said he won't reconsider the sentence handed down to William Spingler in October.

Spingler, 76, of Paoli, was found guilty of fondling a 103-year-old woman, the mother of his late first wife, at a Wayne nursing home in December 2016.

He was sentenced to two years probation and 60 months home monitoring on Oct. 12 by Judge John P. Capuzzi Sr.

But county prosecutors and community members were not happy with Capuzzi's sentence, prompting District Attorney Jack Whelan to approve a motion for sentencing reconsideration for two reasons.

Those were that Spingler's supervision should be under the sex offender unit, rather than the general unit, and that the ruling should include no contact with the victim.

On Nov. 9 Capuzzi denied the motion to reconsider the sentence. However, he did order Spingler to undergo and Evaluation for Sex Offenders Treatment.

Spingler was convicted on two of three counts of indecent assault on a person with a mental disability in a Delaware County court in June this year.

Spingler reportedly admitted in court to touching the woman, who is the mother of his late wife, on two occasions at the Wayne Nursing Home.

"It was a stupid, harmless act that destroyed my life," Spingler reportedly said in court. "I mean, my reputation is destroyed, my business is destroyed. It was just something that I shouldn't have done."

Spingler previously said that he did not fondle the victim and was just showing affection to his mother-in-law who was battling dementia.

Spingler was accused of fondling the victim's breast on three occasions in December 2016.

At Spingler's trial, a nurse told her story of how she saw what she thought was Spingler fondling the woman.

She told the court she saw Spingler's hand fondling the victim's breast.

A unit manager at the home said another nurse reported seeing Spingler fondle the victim as well, which led staff to determine Spingler shouldn't be alone with the victim.

Patch file photo