A Stonington man has been sentenced to serve eight years at the ACI, followed by 12 years probation and a 12-year suspended sentence, after pleading no contest to charges of a Narragansett woman while she was jogging on Ocean Road in October 2011.
Matthew Klotz, 28, of 33 Hopkins St., Stonington, Conn., pleaded no contest to felony charges of kidnapping, carrying a firearm while committing a violent crime and stalking.
Following a sentencing recommendation agreed upon by the prosecution, defense attorneys and the victim, Superior Court Associate Justice Melanie Wilk Thunberg sentenced Klotz to eight years at the ACI, followed by 12 years probation and a 12-year suspended sentence.
A no-contact order will be enacted between Klotz and two victims upon his release. As a condition of the plea, Klotz must also undergo extensive mental health counseling.
The victim in the case, Narragansett resident Anaïs Grilli, addressed the court before Klotz’s sentencing. She said the incident had changed her life.
“I have never feared for my safety in my hometown,” she said. “I was traumatized and had to stay home [after the abduction attempt].”
She added, “I had haunting nightmares and had to avoid large groups … I feel lucky I had the strength to fight this man off.”
In response, Thunberg told her, “I want to tell you how much I respect your strength for coming in.”
Dressed in a tan blazer with a matching suit, Klotz read from a brief statement following Grilli.
“I want to say to the victim and her family that I’m truly sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry this took place. It was the result of a huge mental breakdown.”
His attorney, Roy D. Fowler, argued that there were extenuating circumstances in the case, and noted that Klotz did not pursue Grilli after she fought him off.
“The gun was a BB gun, not a real gun,” he said. “There were no physical injuries.”
Prosecutor Mark Travato told the court that they did agree with the defense’s recommendation to execute Klotz’s sentence on Sept. 26. According to Travato and Fowler, this would allow Klotz to finish a mental health program, which they believed would lower his chances of relapsing after serving his sentence.
Klotz’s hearing started at 10:17 a.m. and finished by 10:33 a.m. on Wednesday, in contrast to the search that resulted in his initial arrest.
Narragansett police circulated a bulletin to area departments and media members on the night of Oct. 21, 2011. Klotz attempted to abduct Grilli shortly after 4 p.m. while she was jogging on Ocean Road, using a BB gun, but she fought him off and called police.
On the morning of Oct. 22, police were pointed in Klotz’s direction by customers at a Narragansett Dunkin’ Donuts, according to reports to Narragansett Patch. Police released surveillance photos of the man–Klotz–shortly after noon.
Later that day, before 5 p.m., an off-duty Rhode Island State Police trooper noticed a truck on the side of the road and recognized Klotz from the bulletin circulating. The trooper–John Gadrow–followed Klotz down Matunuck Beach Road until South Kingstown police made an arrest. Klotz was then transferred to Narragansett police custody.
