Chief Roger Gilbert Jr., 43, of Spartansburg, Pennsylvania is a sex offender and has been re-elected to a second term on the brigade

A registered sex offender has been re-elected as the volunteer fire chief of a small Pennsylvania town, stirring outrage as the Mayor stands by him.

Chief Roger Gilbert Jr. of Spartansburg was convicted of sexual intercourse with a four-year-old girl in 2001 and completed a five to 10 year sentence for 'involuntary deviate sexual intercourse'.

Since then Gilbert, 43, joined Spartansburg Volunteer Fire Department in 2010 and was recently re-elected to the position of fire chief for a second term, sparking outrage.

The news has stirred an online outcry demanding Gilbert be removed from the position.

The victim's mother also says Gilbert should not be in any position where he can interact with children.

Despite the critics, the town mayor Ann Louise Wagner supports Gilbert in his post.

Wagner said she and the volunteer firefighting department are aware of Gilbert's history, who is unpaid for the volunteer position.

'I support the fire department and their decision to have him as chief," Wagner told The Corry Journal.

Gilbert joined the volunteer fire service (building above) in 2010 and since risen to the highest rank

'The firemen have always elected their own officers and that's how it's always been done. We don't question their decisions,' she said.

However, the victim's mother does not believe Gilbert should be in a post where he could interact with children after his crime in 2000 in the nearby city of Corry.

Gilbert vows that he has changed since then.

Spartansburg Mayor Ann Louise Wagner supports Gilbert despite his 2001 conviction of having sex with a four-year-old girl

'That was 20 years ago. You know, the story you are telling kids is once you make mistake, you will be punished for the rest of your life. I've changed my life for the better,' he said to the Journal.

'Every day I get up and try to do good,' he added.

State police said it is up to each individual community to decide whether to allow sex offenders who have completed their sentences to serve in an office at the local level.

Spartansburg is a small town with around 300 residents.

The news has stirred an online outrage over his post with several demanding he leave the position.

'No grown man that has had intercourse with a four year old should still be alive! Much less fire chief where they are looked to as a refuge from harm,' Terry Sheets wrote on Facebook.

Despite the outcry against him Gilbert said 'I've changed my life for the better' since the crime'

'Why is he even allowed to work in a profession where children are taught to trust and turn to them?!?! His job should NEVER allow him to be in the vicinity of children. SICK,' another user Danielle Card wrote.

Others began to critic the people who elected him to the position.

'He needs to be in prison. What is wrong with the people who elected him? It doesn't say much for the mayor,' Barb Reynolds added.

'WTF!!!!!!! I don't care if it was 50 years ago and if the person was now 100-years-old, he should never be allowed to participate in areas where he has access to children,' user Reta Hull said.