Daniel M. Shields Jr.

Daniel M. Shields Jr.
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Shields pleaded guilty March 1 to charges of indecent assault, sexual abuse of children, corrupting a minor and invasion of privacy.He was sentenced Monday to up to four years in state prison.

The victim's mother, whose name the Reading Eagle also is withholding, spoke angrily to Shields from the stand.She said he was treated as a family member and had dinner at their house.

"What you did will affect every decision she makes the rest of her life," the woman said."You are a horrible person.I thank God you finally got caught."

Before the sentencing, several fellow coaches and former athletes who played for Shields testified that he had changed many students' lives for the better.
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Daniel M. Shields Jr., 63, of Pottsville will remain free on bail until Mon day, when he is scheduled to begin his sen tence of 18 months to four years, Judge D. Mich ael Stine ruled.

After his release from jail, Shields will serve six years of probation and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Shields' attorney, Emmanuel H. Dimitriou of Reading, had asked that Shields receive no jail time.
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Shields pleaded guilty March 1 to charges of indecent assault, sexual abuse of children, corrupting a minor and invasion of privacy.
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Shields, who was suspended at Nativity after his arrest in August 2005, no longer works for the parochial school.

The Blue Mountain School District, where Shields was an assistant football coach for five years, also fired him.

Shields took the stand Monday and cried as he apologized.

"I got into coaching and tea ching to help young people, and I betrayed you," he said."For two years I've been asking myself why, but I can't find the answer."

Dr. Timothy E. Ring, a forensic psychologist from Wyomissing who evaluated Shields, was called by Dimitriou to testify.
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Ring said Shields suffered from depression after his wife's death and needs treatment.
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Two of the victims also have filed civil suits in Schuylkill County Court against Shields, the school and the Diocese of Allentown.