Vomiting Phillies Fan Pleads Guilty

by KYW's Tony Hanson

A Cherry Hill, NJ man has pleaded guilty to intentionally vomiting on another man and his 11-year-old daughter at a Phillies game.

Matthew Clemmens, 21 (above), had been charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment in connection with the incident at Citizens Bank Park last month (see previous story).

Prosecutor Patrick Boyle described the events in court on Tuesday. He says Clemmens and a friend were being belligerent, spitting, and using foul language at the game.

Clemmens' friend was ejected early in the game. Boyle says Clemmens left too, but came back.

According to Boyle, Clemmens approached the father, Michael Vangelo -- an off-duty police officer from Easton, Pa. -- and said, "I need to do what I need to do. I'm going to get sick."

Boyle says Clemmens then put his fingers down his throat and threw up on the father and some vomit  splashed onto Vangelo's two daughters, including the 11-year-old. Clemmens then started swinging, according to Boyle.

Clemmens' attorney says his client is sorry  about the incident, that it was out of character for Clemmens, that he was drinking and probably drunk, although the attorney says that is not an excuse or justification-- just a reason.