Teh One Who Knocks
12-20-2011, 04:15 PM
By Pete Kennedy - The Malvern Patch
Editor's note: This article contains graphic language.
Last week, Pennsylvania State Police filed charges of indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children against Matthew Lewis. The 27-year-old Willistown resident has been placed on administrative leave from his job as technology specialist in the four elementary schools of Great Valley School District.
State Trooper James Ciliberto, who is investigating the case, said Friday afternoon that Lewis was not yet in custody, but an arrest warrant has been issued and police were actively looking for him. Lewis's lawyer has indicated his client intended to surrender to police on Monday.
The allegations:
The alleged crimes occured while Lewis was a Scout leader at the Horseshoe Scout Reservation in Nottingham, Pa. At a weeklong camp in July 2006, Lewis asked to talk to one of the campers, approximately 11 to 12 years old, according to the affidavit:
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.
According to the affidavit, the boy complied, and Lewis touched the boy's penis with his hand, ostensibly to measure it. Lewis then told the boy not to tell anyone about the encounter, court documents state.
In March of 2007, Lewis and the victim again attended a weeklong camp at the same location, and Lewis sent text messages asking the victim to take a walk and "talk about his cousin," according to the criminal complaint. The boy did not meet with him.
In July of 2007, Lewis allegedly used the same technique with another camper, an 11-year-old boy. According to the second victim's statement, Lewis asked him to talk and, when they were alone, asked him multiple times to let him measure his penis. The boy refused each time and left, according to the allegations.
The indecent exposure charge does not reflect Lewis exposing himself, but rather that he allegedly attempted to get the victims to expose themselves.
Background:
Lewis is an Eagle Scout. A page on the website of Willistown Troop 78, since removed, detailed his project to "repair and improve the Nature Trail at Charlestown Elementary School."
According to his LinkedIn profile, Lewis attended Immaculata University from 2008-2010 and joined the technology staff of Great Valley School District in July 2008.
On Thursday, Dec. 15, the day the charges were filed, Great Valley superintendent Alan Lonoconus sent an email to parents explaining that Lewis had been placed on leave until pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
Trooper Ciliberto said the police first received the complaints in July 2011. In his experience investigating sex abuse crimes, most complainants do not come forward until a couple years after the abuse. The state police have been coordinating with Willistown Police and the East Whiteland Police have also offered their services.
"These are very serious crimes," said Trooper Ciliberto. "We take all offenses seriously, but this, in particular—offenses against children—is an extremely serious, grave matter."
Editor's note: This article contains graphic language.
Last week, Pennsylvania State Police filed charges of indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children against Matthew Lewis. The 27-year-old Willistown resident has been placed on administrative leave from his job as technology specialist in the four elementary schools of Great Valley School District.
State Trooper James Ciliberto, who is investigating the case, said Friday afternoon that Lewis was not yet in custody, but an arrest warrant has been issued and police were actively looking for him. Lewis's lawyer has indicated his client intended to surrender to police on Monday.
The allegations:
The alleged crimes occured while Lewis was a Scout leader at the Horseshoe Scout Reservation in Nottingham, Pa. At a weeklong camp in July 2006, Lewis asked to talk to one of the campers, approximately 11 to 12 years old, according to the affidavit:
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.
According to the affidavit, the boy complied, and Lewis touched the boy's penis with his hand, ostensibly to measure it. Lewis then told the boy not to tell anyone about the encounter, court documents state.
In March of 2007, Lewis and the victim again attended a weeklong camp at the same location, and Lewis sent text messages asking the victim to take a walk and "talk about his cousin," according to the criminal complaint. The boy did not meet with him.
In July of 2007, Lewis allegedly used the same technique with another camper, an 11-year-old boy. According to the second victim's statement, Lewis asked him to talk and, when they were alone, asked him multiple times to let him measure his penis. The boy refused each time and left, according to the allegations.
The indecent exposure charge does not reflect Lewis exposing himself, but rather that he allegedly attempted to get the victims to expose themselves.
Background:
Lewis is an Eagle Scout. A page on the website of Willistown Troop 78, since removed, detailed his project to "repair and improve the Nature Trail at Charlestown Elementary School."
According to his LinkedIn profile, Lewis attended Immaculata University from 2008-2010 and joined the technology staff of Great Valley School District in July 2008.
On Thursday, Dec. 15, the day the charges were filed, Great Valley superintendent Alan Lonoconus sent an email to parents explaining that Lewis had been placed on leave until pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
Trooper Ciliberto said the police first received the complaints in July 2011. In his experience investigating sex abuse crimes, most complainants do not come forward until a couple years after the abuse. The state police have been coordinating with Willistown Police and the East Whiteland Police have also offered their services.
"These are very serious crimes," said Trooper Ciliberto. "We take all offenses seriously, but this, in particular—offenses against children—is an extremely serious, grave matter."