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Sheboygan alderman Kevin MatiChek appears remotely by video teleconference Monday at the Sheboygan County Detention Center. (AP Photo/Sheboygan Press, Justin Kabbes)
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — A Sheboygan alderman was charged Monday with repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenage boy last year.
Kevin MatiChek, 33, of Sheboygan, made his initial court appearance on the single felony count by closed-circuit TV from the Sheboygan County Detention Center.
According to the criminal complaint, MatiChek met the now-15-year-old boy last summer, and gave the teen gifts, movies and a cellphone that the boy’s mother took away. The complaint alleges the two began having sexual contact shortly after they met.
District Attorney Joe DeCecco said MatiChek groomed the boy to get him to agree to sexual activity, Sheboygan Press Media reported.
“This … young man was having trouble at home and school, and there appears to have been some grooming done here to get the young man to voluntarily … agree to alleged sexual acts with the defendant,” DeCecco said. “A person’s sexual proclivities are his own business but not when it involves juveniles.”
In a statement, defense attorney Casey Hoff said MatiChek is presumed innocent.
“It is very important, especially in a case of this public nature, that people not rush to judgment. This case should not be tried in the court of public opinion,” Hoff’s statement said.
According to the complaint, MatiChek acknowledged having a “friendship” with the boy and kissing him but denied any sexual contact.
Bond for MatiChek was set at $75,000 cash. Court Commissioner Rebecca Persick also set conditions for MatiChek, including no contact with the boy or anyone else younger than 18 and staying at least one block away from any schools. MatiChek is scheduled back in court Feb. 18.
A two-term alderman, MatiChek is up for re-election in April.
