Teen who impersonated physician assistant sentenced to jail

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A St. Cloud teen was sentenced to jail after being convicted of impersonating a physician assistant and practicing medicine without a license at Osceola Regional Medical Center.

Standing to learn his fate 18-year-old Matthew Scheidt didn't say much.

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," the judge told Scheidt, just before announcing his sentence.

"Not right now sir. I'm sorry," said Scheidt.

The judge sentenced Scheidt to one year in jail, one year of supervised release and eight years of probation.

Scheidt got credit for 264 days for time served.

"At the time of the offense you were too young to appreciate the consequences of the offense," said the judge.

The judge said that is why he gave Scheidt less than the minimum 84 months in prison that the prosecution requested. He could have given him up to 20 years.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer said the sentence could end up in appeal.

"The legal basis the judge used to depart from the sentence guideline of 84 months is suspect and the state may well file an appeal," said Sheaffer.

Scheidt and his family broke down in tears when he was convicted.

On Wednesday there seemed to be a sense of relief.

"I think the judge was sensible and I think Matts legal team did a wonderful job," said Sheidt's father, Matthew Scheidt, Sr.

His mother just smiled as she left the courthouse.

Scheidt still faces charges in a south Florida case, where he's accused of impersonating a police officer.

Previous Stories:

• Osceola hospital where teen impersonated P.A. slapped with $5,000 fine
• WFTV obtains 3-hour interrogation of physician's assistant
• Jury finds teen guilty of impersonating physician assistant

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