Jon Matthews off the air, indecency with child alleged

Ft. Bend/Southwest Sun ^ | October 28, 2003 | Seshadri Kumar

[Ron H.]

Nothing really new but wanted to post this for reference if needed at some point in the future. I did note this though, "Whatever it is, I am with Jon until he is found guilty," Carter said, indicating she would stick with his column.

[camle]

guilt by accusation, eh?
evidence is no longer required to ruin somebody.

[hobson]

Thanks for posting. I had not heard about this. I haven't listened to Jon for a while now. This is hard to believe.

[Jalapeno]

ping!

[Ron H.]

Actually this is somewhat 'old news' around here. I caught this breaking last Friday afternoon and posted it on the Texas Locale board about it and then someone else here posted this: Conservative local talk show host being investigated by police from the KTRK web site.

[Theodore R.]

As the former House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-WA, once said, when complaints of a certain nature come they must be investigated because of the seriousness of the charge, rather than where there is any real evidence or not to support the allegation. I have not heard of Jon Matthews, but I hope he is at worst the victim of a liberal witch hunt here.

[weegee]

I think that this same type of charge is what made Art Bell leave the airwaves. He was involved in a nasty defamation suit with a former guest. In the end Art Bell was proven innocent.

[Ron H.]

Like others around here I too view this allegation with a bit of skepticism considering the (political) dynamics in play here this close to a general election.

Jon had taken the right side on issues that were the opposite of some powerful local liberals. He also was hard in condemning the Sugarland police department for failing to obey the law and their own departmental regulations with regard to their (recently resigned) former police chief when he was stopped for apparently driving intoxicated and not prosecuted as we would have been.

I'm by no means saying that was the reason for this allegation but worse things have happened when you step on the wrong toes in some communities.

The sad part of this is that Jon will (probably) always have this stigma attached to his name even if he is not formerly charged or is completely cleared of the allegation. Some people will only remember that he was accused. Even Dan (Goeb) Patrick said as much in an interview he gave with local FOX News Friday evening last.

[Flyer]

*PING* for the Ft. Bend/Southwest Star mention of this.

My question. . . how long does an investigation like this take before charges are or are not filed? It would seem to be fairly straight forward. They either believe the allegations of the minor or they don't.

I was at one time "under investigation" by the Texas Rangers for a quadruple murder. They interviewed me twice but never said "We have finished investigating you." Since Matthews has not been charged I guess the Sugar Land Police have no obligation to publicly announce when their investigation is over.

*PING!*

As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.

[Dog Gone]

So, why did you murder four people?

[Flyer]

So, why did you murder four people?

Watch it buddy, the case is still unsolved and dead Dog Gone's tell no tales!

[Dog Gone]

Matthews remains off air for third day

By ERIC HANSON
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

SUGAR LAND -- Radio talk show host Jon Matthews was off the air for the third day in a row Tuesday while authorities continued a criminal investigation concerning him.

Matthews, 59, is under investigation by Sugar Land police, but department officials have provided few details about the case.

Dan Patrick, owner of KSEV-AM 700 where Matthews hosts a weekday show from 6 to 9 a.m., said Tuesday that Matthews will not host the program until the matter is resolved.

The investigation is centered around an allegation made recently by a member of the community, said police spokeswoman Pat Whitty.

"It is an open case, we are investigating the claim. At this time, we are not at liberty to discuss any portion of the case," she said Tuesday.

The only detail Whitty would release was that the alleged incident happened in the 500 block of Rolling Mill, the street where Matthews lives.

The Houston Chronicle requested a copy of the police report under the Texas Public Information Act. State law says police departments cannot withhold basic information such as the date and location of an alleged incident and a description of the offense.

However, Sugar Land officials are asking the state attorney general for a ruling on whether the information has to be released, Whitty said.

City officials believe some parts of the police report fall under privacy and family law.

Meanwhile, Fort Bend District Attorney John Healey said the investigation is continuing but he would not offer any further information.

"It would not be fair to all parties concerned to get into the particular facts surrounding the investigation," Healey said.

Healey added that he does not anticipate a lengthy probe on the matter.

Ed Hendee was on the air Tuesday morning during Matthews' time slot and told listeners any messages they might have for Matthews would be passed on to him.

Matthews did not return a call from the Chronicle.

[Jaded]

Remember a few years ago when something similar happened to Ed Brandon at channel 13? There were accusations of sexual indecency with someone. There was an investigation with a PI and Ed was gone for a while. Lots of rumors and speculation and something about being blackmailed. He ended up in Detox because of an alleged coke problem.

So who knows how much truth there is to the allegations.

[Flyer]

I recall the cocaine issue, which I think he publicly admitted to, but the indecency doesn't ring a bell. Could just be my bell is getting old.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

"Whatever it is, I am with Jon until he is found guilty," Carter said, indicating she would stick with his column.

Bev said NOTHING about Jon in her column this week, and Jon's was not printed.

[Dog Gone]

Yikes.

[Flyer]

I think you have to be a subscriber registered with the Chronicle to access this story on the unsolved murders.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Jon had taken the right side on issues that were the opposite of some powerful local liberals. He also was hard in condemning the Sugarland police department for failing to obey the law and their own departmental regulations with regard to their (recently resigned) former police chief

If it's politics, I would not have pulled it in Sugar Land were Jon supported the current (*$$&*$&, ^%!!&*^^%&*,%&^%$)Mayor, and where most of the city council is Republican. The DA in Ft Bend is also Republican and a good friend of Jon's. He is on Jon's show several times a year.

[antivenom]

Before detox he was a thin man...now that he is coke and little children habit free...he is a bloated hog...till this day, whenever I see him...I see a coke head child diddler...

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

So, why did you murder four people?

The bigger question is ... why are they only looking at those FOUR?