A former Fountain Hill Borough manager, who lives in Alburtis, has pleaded guilty to solicitation charges.

In a news release dated March 22, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a guilty plea and sentencing of Eric C. Gratz, 42, of Alburtis, a former Fountain Hill Borough manager, who was charged with soliciting to commit prostitution.

Gratz pleaded guilty March 22 to two counts of solicitation to commit prostitution, according to authorities.

Solicitation to commit prostitution is a misdemeanor of the third degree.

Gratz pleaded guilty to both charges in a hearing before Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks and was sentenced to serve two years on probation.

The news release outlined the case as follows:

In February 2023, an investigation started after a complaint was received in the mayor’s office of Fountain Hill borough.

The complaint concerned Gratz, who was working at the time as the borough manager, a position he’d held since August 2021.

The person who filed the complaint was working as a junior firefighter at Fountain Hill Fire Department and said in December 2022 when she was 17 years old, Gratz initiated conversations with her at the fire company and exchanged cellphone numbers for work purposes.

An investigation determined Gratz texted the teen “offering to provide her money in exchange for sexual acts.”

According to authorities, Gratz used a cellphone provided by the Borough of Fountain Hill to text her on numerous occasions.

The investigation did not reveal any sexual contact ever occurred between Gratz and the person who filed the complaint.

A second person worked with Gratz in July 2021 when he served as the director of Allentown Emergency Medical Services, the investigation revealed.

The person was hired by Gratz and she said in October 2021, Gratz told her she was not fit to work at the agency and to not show up for work.

In November 2021, the complainant said Gratz contacted her via social media and offered to pay her for a sexual act and she refused.

This case was investigated by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, Special Victim’s Unit and Lehigh County Detective Gregg Dietz.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Christine F. Murphy prosecuted the case.

Gratz remained free on $5,000 unsecured bail, according to the news release and court documents.