GVSD Employee Pleads Guilty to Scout-Camp Assaults
Matthew Lewis worked as a technology specialist at Great Valley elementary schools.
Editor's note: This article contains graphic language.
A Great Valley School District employee pleaded guilty to indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, endangering the welfare of children and other charges stemming from incidents at a Boy Scouts camp in 2006 and 2007.
Matthew Lewis, 28, will likely avoid a prison term when he faces sentencing before Judge David Bortner in September, according to the assistant district attorney handling the case.
"He’s probably going to be getting probation, with counseling and other restrictions for his supervision period," Elizabeth Pitts, a prosecutor in the Chester County District Attorney's office, said.
The crimes occurred while Lewis was working as a counselor at Horseshoe Scout Reservation in Nottingham. He faced two sets of charges, each related to a young camper. Both victims were roughly 11 years old at the time of the crimes. According to the court documents, Lewis, on separate occasions, isolated each of the boys and asked to see his genitalia:
When they were alone, the defendant then told the victim that he had a cousin that was the approximate age of the victim and that relative was concerned about the size of his penis. The defendant asked the victim to show the defendant his penis so he (the defendant) could measure and compare it to his concerned cousin's penis.
Lewis pleaded guilty June 15 to the lone felony count against him, endangering the welfare of children, and three first-degree misdemeanors, including corruption of minors, and criminal solicitation and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old. Seven related misdemeanor charges were withdrawn.
The indecent assault conviction requires Lewis to undergo an evaluation by the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to determine if he is a sexually violent predator under Megan's Law.
When the charges were filed on Dec. 15, 2011, Lewis was employed as a technology specialist working in three of Great Valley's four elementary schools—Sugartown, General Wayne and K.D. Markley. At that time, Lewis was placed on administrative leave, but many parents expressed anger at the school district administration's lack of action in the preceding months, after the district was made aware of the investigation.
At a special meeting held Dec. 22, 2011, Superintendent Alan Lonoconus told parents that state law prohibited any action against an employee based on mere suspicions, and that at one point the allegations were deemed unfounded.
Messages for school district officials were not immediately returned. Lewis's employment status has most recently been characterized as on administrative leave; the Great Valley School Board did not address his employment at its June 26 meeting.
Previous coverage:
Lewis Waives Preliminary Hearing
School Board: New Bathroom Guidelines, Other Matthew Lewis Updates
GVSD Officials Meet With Parents, Provide Some Answers (includes comprehensive timeline)
UPDATED: More Details on Charges Against GVSD Tech Specialist
Tim Caban
8:03 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Any response from the school district? Or should we all pretend this never happened and move on.
Pete Kennedy
5:47 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tim, the school district communications director emailed Monday, saying the Matt Lewis was suspended without pay. She said she would let me know of any changes in the district's relationship with Lewis.
Concerned Citizen
3:09 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
What a scumbag. How does this guy NOT face any jail time?
Concerned Citizen
3:20 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
And apparently.... this is NOT a felony.
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/docketsheets/CPReport.ashx?docketNumber=CP-15-CR-0000395-2012
Pete Kennedy
5:52 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
That is the docket related to the first victim (2006). The charges related to the second victim (2007) include one felony: "Endangering Welfare of Children - Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense"
SammyM
9:45 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
disgusting
hongfeng
9:30 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
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