Newton County School Board Member Charged With Statutory Rape, Possession Of Child Porn:

Matthew A. Boyer

A member of a school board in Newton County has been charged with two counts of second-degree statutory rape and possession of child pornography.

Newton County Prosecutor Jake Skouby filed those charges against Matthew A. Boyer, 35, of Neosho, on Thursday April 22nd.

Boyer, had served on the school board of the Westview School Board of Education for eight years until his resignation on Friday April 23rd. Superintendent Mark Fitch says, "A family member brought in his letter of resignation and we voted to accept it the same day. The charges come as a shock to me and other members of the school board."

The probable cause statement used as the basis for charging Boyer says, the Newton County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation into Boyer after receiving information from a high school girl who alleges she had sexual intercourse with Boyer on at least two occasions in September of 2009 when she was 16 years-old.

When police served a search warrant at Boyer's residence they found pictures of another underage girl on his home computer.

Online court records show that Boyer entered an Alford Plead to misdemeanor child endangerment in February. He was ordered to serve 60-days in jail, however, that assessment was suspended and he was placed on two years unsupervised probation. Boyer also pleaded guilty to nonsupport in 2008 and was received five years probation.

Boyer is in being held in the Newton County jail on $125,000 bond.