I-Team 10 update: Former Hillside counselor arraigned

Posted at: 09/26/2012 6:35 AM | Updated at: 09/28/2012 1:21 PM
By: Amanda Ciavarri | WHEC.com

The prosecution says he has had access to hundreds of children. A former Hillside counselor was arraigned in county court and charged with multiple counts of criminal sex act and endangering the welfare of a child. King is accused of having sex with two teens who stayed at Hillside. 

Some of what the court paperwork describes is too disturbing to even report, but in statements that King gave to police he admits to having sexual contact with one teen from Hillside. He pled not guilty Wednesday to all the allegations. 

Kyle Rossi, Assistant District Attorney, said, “He has held positions in schools, camps literally his entire adult life."

According to court paperwork, 29-year-old Matthew King not only worked at Hillside, but over the years has worked at Railroad Junction Camp in Webster, Camp Canadensis in Pennsylvania and Camp Pontiac in Copake, New York. King was even a substitute teacher for School #41 in the city of Rochester. 

Rossi said, "He obviously had access to hundreds of children." 

King was charged with five counts of criminal sex act. Police say he had sex with two teenage boys who stayed at Hillside where King worked. 

Rossi said, "The contact was exclusively gotten and started because of his job. I think that is the aggravating circumstance here. He was only in contact with these kids because they were at the hillside center." 

King was also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. 

Rossi said, “He was charged with other inappropriate conduct he had that wasn't sexual in nature, but included providing alcohol, cigarettes, showing pornography." 

In written statements, King gave to police, he admits to having sexual contact with one of the teens, but says the teen pursued him. According to the statements, King told the teen over and over no, then King says, “Something went off in my head and I just let him.” 

In the statement, King also says the teen became “obsessed” with him. King also says in the statement he and the teen had sexual contact more than once, but he says he never had sexual contact with any other minors. 

He writes, “I know it was wrong to do what I did. It was against the law and morally wrong. I am so sorry.” 

Rossi said, “Certainly in any case involving children one of our concerns, our primary concerns, is that we may not be aware of all the potential victims.” 

Assistant District Attorney says they have no evidence there may be other victims, but... 

Rossi said, “The investigation remains open, so if anyone in the community knows of other victims. We would urge them to come forward to New York State Police or the district attorney's office.” 

According to the court paperwork, King told police he and the teen saw each other even after he was suspended from Hillside after these allegations came out. King also told police he realizes he has a problem with having sexual contact with a teenager, and that he has been trying to get help for it from doctors.

News10NBC did reach out to Hillside Family of Agencies. They released a statement saying they are very concerned by these allegations and that they would never tolerate behavior that compromises the safety, security, and well-being of children and youth in there care. They will continue to work with police. 

King’s defense attorney told the judge his parents were able to collect $50,000 in cash from friends who believe King is innocent to bail him out. The judge had him sign order of protections for the victims involved in this case.

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