For over 20 years, Joseph Mlyniec was a well-respected member of his community. In addition to being a Wyoming County Sheriff’s deputy, he was also a celebrated veteran, a volunteer firefighter, and a Rotary and Town Board member.
But he carried with him a dark secret.
Unbeknownst to anyone in his tight-knit community, 60-year-old Mlyniec had a practice of luring troubled young men back to his remote farmhouse, where he would make them perform sexual favors in exchange for food and money. Because of this, he became known as “The Collector.”
Then in March of this year, Mlyniec’s facade came crashing down.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
When a 32-year-old man named Robert Irvine III got wind of Mlyniec’s secret, he threatened to tell police. The two got into a heated argument on the evening of March 7. That’s when Mlyniec fatally shot Irvine four times in the driveway of his farmhouse.
Moments after killing Irvine, Mlyniec called police and confessed to the crime. He was charged with second-degree murder. This week, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to an indeterminate sentence of 15 years to life.
“Robert was a friend of mine for over 10 years, and I’ll have to live with that burden,” a remorseful Mlyniec said during his sentencing on Wednesday. “I can’t try to explain what I did or didn’t do. But I’m so sorry, and I know, I know I can’t say anything.”
Irvine’s older sister, Kim Schroth, also spoke in court, looking Mlyniec directly in the eye and saying: “I hope your demons haunt you for the rest of your life. I hope you never see the light of day in the free world again. You should be ashamed of yourself. You’re despicable.”
Mlyniec’s attorney requested his client receive mental health treatment in prison and be placed in protective custody given his career in law enforcement.
As part of his plea deal, Mlyniec will not have the opportunity to appeal his sentence.
Related: Ex-cop busted for sexting with 15-year-old who lied about his age on Grindr
toddlicious
Love how they keep all the hay stuff quiet in Wyoming
vancouverdoug
Wyoming County is in upstate New York. Is it too much to put that important information in an article?
Bob LaBlah
I’m glad I’m not the only one who notices those “minor” details in Queerty’s reporting. But hey, we get what we “pay” for, huh? lol lol
HereIAm
Although this guy’s killing of his friend is inexcusable, he has done a lot of good things for the community. His intention to help those young men may be dishonorable, but at least he provided shelter and food to them — the young men down on their luck with no one else to turn to. He took advantage of them because there is a dark demon inside him. Overall, his redemption outweighs the sins he has committed
Large Hardon Collider
Your “demons” sure are inconsistent.
Juanjo
This man exploited vulnerable people by demanding sex in exchange for food and shelter. In what way can you call that a good thing? Then he murdered someone to prevent that secret from being revealed to the world.
Jaroslaw
HereIAM – people only think in black and white, you can’t make comments like you did. Some here can’t read either – you never said it was a good thing to exploit young men. You said he fed them and housed them. For the record, I think he should be in prison for as long as anyone else who commits murder or exploits people. But I also think many people do both good and bad things. We often don’t know or think of things in those terms. If a president or other authority declines to do something to save a group of people, (assuming it is not at horrendous financial or other types of cost) how is that different than doing the actual killing? People die either way.
DHT
Are you kidding? “at least he provided shelter and food to them” sure, most pimps don’t starve their whores, how about that…
Thad
For your information, this happened in New York State. (There’s a Wyoming County in Pennsylvania and a whole state with that name – not associated.(
Brian
No charges for sexual assault, and he doesn’t have to register as a sex offender…?
Did the DA decide that extra charges would complicate the case too much?
I always find it odd that someone can get 5+ essentially identical charges for resisting arrest (obstructing an investigation, etc.) but so few charges for actual, violent crimes. They get creative when they want to, so why not when it matters?
Kangol
Lock this scumbag up not just for murdering someone, but for also taking advantage of vulnerable people. What a horrid creep. And of course he set himself up as a figure of authority in the community. In fact, he should get extra time for his gross hypocrisy.
And uh, Queerty, maybe specific which “Wyoming County” you mean next time?
Chrisk
I don’t think you can charge somebody for that. Yeah he took advantage of them but they’re still men.
frankcar1965
You can’t lock someone up for taking advantage of vulnerable people unless those people have some type of mental or physical condition. Seventy-five percent of the population might get locked sometime in their lives then. People have the right to say no and they should if they feel threatened.
Jackrabbit
Got Milk
Virpilosus
This individual may have murdered one man, but he severely damaged and injured many many others with his sexual predation. He ought to be punished for all of the above.
frankcar1965
They were adults and apparently of sane mind so nothing you can do about that. Just because he was a shit to people doesn’t make that part a chargeable offense. He should go to jail for murder.
Lacuevaman
so much not here. must be more to the story….sister’s reaction seems a bit much too.