School resource officer arrested for sexual misconduct with student

wireready_07-26-2019-18-40-02_00167_matthewguthrie072619

A Baxter County deputy, who served as a school resource officer at Cotter Public Schools, has been arrested for sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old student at the school. Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says 33-year-old Matthew Guthrie was arrested Friday morning.Montgomery says Guthrie made a full confession to the truthfulness of the allegations during an interview with law enforcement.Information indicates Guthrie and the victim engaged in consensual sexual activity multiple times at multiple locations between May and July of this year. None of the encounters are believed to have taken place on school property.Montgomery says the allegation was made to the prosecuting attorney by a parent of the child, and a request was made for Arkansas State Police to conduct a criminal investigation into the complaint.

The sheriff’s office learned of the accusations Thursday and assisted with the criminal investigation.

Montgomery says the victim was interviewed and assisted investigators with gathering evidence to substantiate the allegation.

After conferring with the prosecuting attorney, Guthrie was arrested and is being charged with seven felony counts of first-degree sexual assault.

Based on the recommendation of the prosecuting attorney and the approval of the court, Guthrie’s bond was set at $100,000, along with special conditions prohibiting him from having further contact with the victim.

Montgomery says as a public servant holding a position of trust and authority over students within the school system, Guthrie was prohibited by law and his code of ethics from having sexual conduct with any student, regardless of age or whether it was believed to be consensual.

Guthrie was hired by the sheriff’s office as a jailer in January 2016 and was transferred to the position of school resource officer in January 2017. He was fired from his position with the sheriff’s office Friday morning.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI