MOC managing partner vows to resist harassment and ‘unfair’ accusations

Says he has no information that would shed light on the accident that killed Ocean Pines teenager Gavin Knupp last summer

Matt Ortt, managing partner of the Matt Ortt Companies that operates three food and beverage operations for the Ocean Pines Association, recently agreed to an interview in which he explains and defends his lack of knowledge about the tragic accident that killed Ocean Pines teenager Gavin Knupp last July.

He discusses how he’s coping with what he clearly believes is a targeted campaign against his company, and says he has “no idea” what might end the campaign and bring closure to the family of Gavin Knupp. The interview follows:

Ocean Pines Progress -- The Matt Ortt Companies have been subject to a sustained campaign by some associated with the “Justice for Gavin” movement that urges the public and live entertainment perform- Matt Ortt ers not to patronize or perform at MOC restaurants. Other

Knupp family lawyer snipes at Parks statement

Property owners will need to break out their pens if they want to vote in this summer’s Board of Directors election. During a March 18 meeting a majority of Board members voted to return to paper-only ballots for the 2023 election.

Director Rick Farr’s motion was approved 4-2-1.

~ Page 20

Two directors dissent from Parks statement

Two Board members, Colette Horn and Steve Jacobs, dissented from the Doug Parks statement critical of some within the Do It for Gavin movement for encouraging bands, service groups and individuals not to do business with OPA venues managed by the Matt Ortt Companies.

~ Page 9

Matt Ortt interview

From Page 1 than a statement issued almost eight months ago in support of former partner Ralph DeAngelus, and a subsequent statement clarifying that initial statement -- you have not gone public to challenge your critics. You have agreed to this interview. Why now?

Matt Ortt -- I’ve been quiet for several months now. However given the large amounts of misinformation that is circulating about me and my business, I feel like I need to set the record straight.

From day one of this incident people have made assumptions about me and what they think I know.

The truth is, I was not at the Yacht Club that evening and did not witness any of the alleged events of that night.

I have fully and voluntarily cooperated with the authorities. MOC and the OPA have provided any and all information and documents requested by investigators.

I was interviewed by Maryland State Police and did not at any time invoke a Fifth Amendment privilege. Each time I tried speaking out publicly, I was immediately attacked, so it felt like no matter what I said, it wouldn’t be well received anyway.

I guess the group thinks that if they put enough pressure on me I’ll turn over some key piece of evidence to implicate a driver. I have no such information. If I had it, I would have already provided it rather than let me family, friends, staff and business suffer for the last eight months. I want people to know that their pursuit for justice is being misdirected.

Ocean Pines Progress -- Can you describe in general terms the nature of the campaign against MOC. Clearly you believe it to be fundamentally unfair. Why is that?

Matt Ortt -- The campaign consists of boycotting our venues, leaving false one-star reviews across multiple platforms, writing vile comments on our social media platforms, vandalizing our properties, harassing and bullying our staff, vendors, and entertainment.

This has included emails and voicemails threatening death.

This frustration is misdirected. It is not targeting the individuals believed to be involved with the accident.

This campaign is doing nothing to bring the family any closer to justice.

Ocean Pines Progress -- In your second clarifying statement, you mentioned support for certain objectives of “Justice for Gavin” and expressed sympathy for grieving family and friends of Gavin Knupp. And yet the campaign against MOC business interests continues. Is it reasonable to assume that at some point this campaign ends, and how to you think this could be brought about?

Matt Ortt -- I don’t know if the campaign will end, but I also don’t know why it continues now because everyone who is suspected to have involvement in the accident has no ties to MOC. I have completely divested my partnership with Ralph DeAngelus.

The corporate papers and licenses both show that.

I don’t know how to bring this campaign to an end because there is nothing more that I can personally do to help the family get the closure they deserve.

To my knowledge, no one remaining at MOC is alleged to have had any involvement in the accident, and no one at MOC, including myself, has the ability to pressure or coerce anyone to come forward.

Ocean Pines Progress -- The sale of the former Coastal Smokehouse restaurant owned and operated by MOC recently went to settlement. Please explain why you concluded this sale was in the best interest of MOC and what connection it had if any to the protests on site by “Justice for Gavin” supporters.

Matt Ortt interview

From Page 3

Matt Ortt -- I was presented with an opportunity to sell the business and it felt like the right decision for me at this time. All factors were taken into consideration before making the decision.

Ocean Pines Progress -- The recent fundraiser by the Veterans Memorial Foundation at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club presented some challenges for MOC, as two live acts pulled out from providing entertainment for this event. Please describe what these two acts told you about their reasons for pulling out, and how you dealt with this challenge.

Matt Ortt -- The entertainment that pulled out were threatened and harassed by certain members of the Do It For Gavin group.

This left the Veterans Memorial Foundation scrambling to find another entertainer for their event. [A deejay was called in at the last minute to fill the void.] Bullying others is never the answer, especially when it’s people who have nothing to do with this case.

Threatening a band that plays at our venue and threatening to vandalize the Veterans Memorial because they are holding their banquet at our venue isn’t going to get anyone closer to justice.

Ocean Pines Progress -- MOC continues to operate Ocean Pines Association food and beverage venues and other venues in the Greater Ocean City area, with live entertainment routinely offered. In addition to the recent challenges at the foundation fund-raiser, have there been situations in which live entertainers have been reluctant to perform at MOC-operated venues?

Matt Ortt -- Absolutely. There have been bands and performers that have canceled out of fear of retribution.

They have expressed to us that they really don’t want to back out because certain members of the Do It For Gavin group are threatening and harassing them, but they feel they have to out of safety and for business concerns.

Ocean Pines Progress -- Are there still plenty of bands who are willing to perform to fill out the Yacht club live entertainment schedule? Have some of these bands been pressured not to perform and decided to perform anyway?

Matt Ortt -- Yes, we have had several bands back out because of the pressure applied on them by certain members of the Do it for Gavin group. We also have other bands who have played here repeatedly and have told me they will not change their plans to play at the Yacht Club.

We are very fortunate to have some bands who understand that MOC and myself are not in- volved in this investigation or accident. Ocean Pines Progress -- What message do you have for those associated with the “Justice for Gavin” movement that you believe have unfairly targeted MOC?

Matt Ortt -- I understand your frustration. It has been eight long months with no answers. A child’s life was lost and the family does deserve justice for Gavin.

The real frustration is the slow process of this investigation to bring justice to this terrible tragedy.

I have children and I can’t imagine the pain the Knupp family feels.

MOC is being targeted because of me. I put out an initial statement supporting my then partner, not knowing the facts.

That was a mistake that I have acknowledged and apologized for.

It’s been alleged that I was involved in a cover up, that I’ve lied about my knowledge of the situation and that Ralph [DeAngelus] is still a silent partner of MOC. None of these allegations are true.

Coming after me, my employees and my business will not bring justice to the community any faster.

I have and continue to hope that justice for Gavin is delivered and the Knupp family and the community can have some closure.

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