Appeal denied.
Jan 11, 2008 -
On Jan. 4, the Pennsylvania Superior Court denied the appeal of Thomas Harvey Matthews, former teacher in the Delaware Valley School District who was convicted on twenty-three separate charges in July of 2006. He was sentenced to eleven and one-half years to twenty-four years for crimes committed against former students.The students were between the ages of 7 and 8. Matthews was 59 at the time of his sentencing.
Matthews’ conviction came after three different students testified how he touched them underneath their clothes while they were in his third-grade class. First Assistant Pike County District Attorney Bruce DeSarro, who prosecuted the case at trial, stated that “our community owes a great debt of gratitude for the bravery these young people showed in coming forward and bringing this predator to justice.”
From article: "During the trial, prosecutor Bruce DeSarro also presented a memo the School District had sent to Matthews before he committed the crimes for which he was convicted. The memo told Matthews not to have any physical contact whatsoever with students because of prior complaints about his touching female students. The crimes for which Matthews was convicted occurred in the next two years after the memo was sent. "
