Image Credit: MCSO & Montgomery Central High School / Facebook
Tennessee Conservative News [By Paula Gomes] –
A Clarksville teacher who showed nude photographs of himself that were on his phone to a 17-year-old female student has finally been arrested.
Formerly employed at Montgomery Central High School, Matthew Vedder worked as a science teacher before resigning his position within the Clarksville-Montgomery County school system in April, a month after the allegations.
After the 19th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office that serves Montgomery County recused itself from the case, referring the matter to the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference who assigned it to District Attorney General Thomas Dean in Sumner County,
52-year-old Vedder was arrested, and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.
The case will be prosecuted by Sumner County Assistant District Attorney General Nathan Nichols.
Charged with four counts of supplying obscene material to minors which is a Class A misdemeanor, Vedder could face up to 11 months and 29 days in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,500 on each count if found guilty.
Short of a felony charge, Vedder will be prosecuted for violating TN Code 39-17-911 which prohibits any person in the state of Tennessee to knowingly “exhibit or make available to a minor… any picture, photograph… or similar visual representation or image of a person or portion of the human body, that depicts nudity (or) sexual conduct… and that is harmful to minors.”
Vedder, who is married to the district Superintendent Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder, had admitted to law enforcement in March that he had shown the pictures to the girl but claimed it was an accident. The student and her family have maintained that it was intentional on Vedder’s part.
While Luna-Vedder recused herself from any investigation or disciplinary proceedings having to do with her husband, the victim’s mother, Ashley Ellithorpe, called for Luna-Vedder’s resignation during public comment at a recent school board meeting.
Makenzie Ellithorpe, Vedder’s now 18-year-old victim spoke out about her ordeal at a Clarksville-Montgomery County School System Board of Education meeting and stated that she has heard from many other students whose concerns about Vedder were dismissed by officials at Montgomery Central High School.
“You have failed us. You have failed at keeping students safe,” Makenzie told board members. “You have failed at protecting students from predators.”
Terri Miller, President of Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & Exploitation (SESAME) says that predatory teachers typically are employed by three school systems before being caught.
These “mobile molesters” can have up to 73 victims in their lifetime.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
“Education” is terminally infested with lucifer’s accursed dimmercraps like him.