Posted on 08/04/2006 11:44:38 AM PDT by trumandogz
RICHMOND -- Former radio talk show host Jon Matthews surrendered at the Fort Bend County jail today after an arrest warrant was issued for him for allegedly violating probation.
Matthews received a seven-year deferred adjudication sentence two years ago when he pleaded guilty to a charge of indecency with a child.
According to court records, Matthews, 61, tested positive for alcohol, and was discussing sexual fantasies over the Internet.
Matthews was placed on probation after he admitted exposing himself to an 11-year-old girl in October 2003 in his Sugar Land home.
Among the conditions of the probation were that Matthews abstain from alcohol use and refrain from viewing sexually obscene material.
The order for Matthew's arrest was signed July 28 by state District Judge Brady Elliott.
Bail for Matthews was set at $20,000.
According to the police report, the girl -- who was a neighbor -- arrived at the Matthews house to play with Matthews' puppy.
Matthews answered the door in his underwear and the girl told investigators Matthews sat on the floor and that his genitals were exposed.
Court documents state Matthews then left the room to put on a pair of shorts.
"Upon his return to the living room, the Defendant pulled his shorts and underwear down and exposed his genitals to Sara Post (pseudonym), then he said 'whoops.' Sara Post demonstrated how far down the Defendant pulled his shorts and underwear. The Defendant told Sara Post not to tell what he had done."
After he was sentenced, Matthews attorney, Stephen Doggett, read a statement from his client.
"To the complainant and her parents, I again apologize," he said.
Matthews, who often took a hard law-and-order stance on his radio show, took some potshots and the American judicial system outside the courthouse after he was sentenced.
"Those of you who have listened to my radio show and read my newspaper columns over the years know how strong a supporter I was of our criminal justice system. I can only say how misguided I was. Our criminal justice system is not based on justice, it is a quota system where conviction is the only scorecard," he said.
I am not sure if he was set-up or if what the state says is the truth.
Too bad.
Child molestation is one of those things of which you are guilty-by-accusation.
Damn. Just damn.
Yikes. Not good. Really, those who publicly advocate for morals and conservative values have to be "above reproach" in their personal lives. Unfortunately, their behavior undercuts their message.
I lived in Houston when a local doctor lady who had a radio talk show about medical issues had to quit because someone caught her smoking a cigarette, something she deplored on her show.
Sounds like a sting operation. What an idiot!
Jon, I loved you like a brother and defended you the first time around, but you need to get a grip on reality. You have some serious impulse control issues.
Mr. Matthews ran afoul of powerful people who stood to profit (a lot) from the downtown light rail system.
If this is true, then it is obvious there is a "dark side" to Matthews (as indeed there is for many people).
I was never a huge fan of his, but I would sometimes tune him in if there was nothing else on. Like a lot of local talk-show hosts, he was not in the league of national hosts like Rush, Laura, Levin et al. All the local guys here in Houston, either before or after Matthews, are pretty lightweight, IMO.
Well, that whole "talking on the radio" fetish ought to have set off someone's alarm bells.
"According to the police report, the girl -- who was a neighbor -- arrived at the Matthews house to play with Matthews' puppy."
When I first got my puppy, the kids in my neighborhood loved it. I would let them play with my pup, but only outside in the front yard and with their parents permission. One day I was sitting in my house and one of the 10-11 year old girls just walked in my house to play with the puppy. I jumped up, took her home immediately and reported it to her mom.
It was a very frightening situation and I could envision my life being devestated by a false accusation.
Has Barney gone after kids? Throw away the key on this guy if he is guilty.
Anyone else familiar with the Marcia Ball song "I want to play with your poodle"?
Hey, one of 'em was me!
It took forever to get ahold of him, but it was a kind of thrill to hear myself on the radio.
Not that I know of, but Barney's "companion" was running a male prostitution ring out of their basement, and - naturally - Barney claims he knew absolutely nothing about it.
Well that's a standard none of us can meet. I will say that avoiding inviting the neighbor girl in to play with your puppy is a reachable goal.
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