Matthew John Dietz, 42, Alpena, was sentenced to serve 70 months to 15 years in prison on two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct, Second Degree.

Dietz had pleaded guilty to these charges as well as two counts of Accosting a Child for an Immoral Purpose on February 24, 2021.

According to a police affidavit filed in the case, Dietz kissed and groped two children, ages 9 and 10, in Hayes Township in September of 2018. When the police attempted to interview Dietz, he stole a car and fled the area.

After the FBI posted a reward for information on Dietz’s whereabouts, the Michigan State Police Fugitive Team, responding to a tip, arrested Dietz in Alpena in April of 2020.

Dietz was sentenced to sentences of 30 months to four years on the accosting charges. All of the sentences will run concurrently.

He is also required to register as a sex offender and to electronic monitoring, both for life.

“As Judge (Roy C.) Hayes said in imposing sentence, crimes against children are the most heinous,” Charlevoix County Prosecuting Attorney Allen Telgenhof said. “These brave children immediately spoke up about what the defendant had done to them. He will not only be in prison, but will be registered and monitored for the rest of his life.”

The crime was investigated by Detective Cody Wheat of the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Charlevoix County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mary Farrell.