Fountain Hill Borough Manager faces trial for allegedly soliciting sex

Who is Fountain Hill’s District Manager? Indicted on charges of soliciting sexual acts from a 17-year-old boyis currently on trial in Lehigh County Court.

On Monday, Erik Gratz, 42, of Albertis waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the office of District Judge Michael Faulkner, according to court records.

In March, Lehigh County detectives filed charges against Glatz, who allegedly paid a young firefighter money for sex in December 2021. Glatz used to be Allentown’s emergency chief.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said the investigation began in February when a female volunteer filed a complaint with the Fountain Hill Mayor’s Office.

Officials said Gratz “started a conversation” with a junior firefighter from the fire company and exchanged phone numbers for work.

Detectives said Glatz texted the girl and offered to give her money in exchange for sex. He allegedly texted the boy multiple times using a ward-owned phone.

Authorities said there was no sexual contact between the two.

Gratz admitted to investigators that he had texted a girl he thought was 18, police said.

In May, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office filed additional charges of soliciting sexual activity from a former Allentown EMS employee in November 2021. A man reached out to her on social media asking for her sexual activity, to which she replied that she did. According to her indictment, she cannot trade sex for money.

Police said the man stopped contacting her after that.

Gratz is still listed as Fountain Hill’s manager on the borough’s website, but since early May, Jason Qualley has been the interim manager. Gratz was hired as mayor in August 2021, police said.

Glatz is still facing two counts of soliciting prostitution, which is a third-degree misdemeanor. He is released on $5,000 bail.

A message left for his attorney for comment was not immediately returned Monday afternoon.