Ex-LAUSD teacher pleads not guilty to lewd acts with one of her students
A former Los Angeles Unified School District middle school teacher pleaded not guilty Tuesday to lewd act charges involving a teenage boy who was one of her students.
Superior Court Judge Susan J. De Witt ordered Colleen Jo Matarico of Valley Village to remain behind bars in lieu of $590,000 bail.
The 43-year-old woman will be subject to GPS tracking if she is able to post bond, the judge said.
Deputy Public Defender Carlos Bido noted that the defendant was asking to be released on her own recognizance or on GPS tracking, and said the mother of two minor children was "currently unemployed."
Deputy District Attorney Ariel Anson objected to any reduction in Matarico's bail, arguing that the defendant's "conduct got worse" after she apparently believed that an initial investigation into the alleged misconduct was over. The prosecutor said messages from the woman indicate that she was "in love with" the boy and that he was the "only person she would go to jail for."
The judge signed an order barring Matarico from having any contact with the boy.
Matarico is charged with five felony counts of a lewd act on a child under age 14, two felony counts of lewd act on a child age 14 or 15, and one felony count of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
The complaint alleges that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that Matarico took advantage of her position of trust and confidence to commit the offenses.
Matarico allegedly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with the boy starting when he was 13 in 2023 and continuing until he was 14 this year, and allegedly provided him with cannabis, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Matarico allegedly persuaded the victim to have sexual intercourse with her in her vehicle, according to a statement released by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Her LinkedIn profile states she is a special education teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She was listed as a teacher at John Burroughs Middle School in Hancock Park on the school's website, but is no longer listed.
Matarico — who was arrested last Thursday by detectives from the LAPD's Juvenile Division — is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Nov. 26. A date is scheduled to be set then for a hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to allow the case against her to proceed to trial.
"The accusations against Ms. Matarico are deeply disturbing and violate the trust that was placed in her by the students, their families, and the entire community," District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement last week announcing the charges. "I want to acknowledge the courage of the young victim and his decision to report the abuse. Our office and investigators also are working to identify any potential additional victims. The office will seek justice for the victim and those affected by Matarico's actions."
If convicted as charged, she could face up to 20 years and four months in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Los Angeles police said in the statement that detectives believe there are additional, unidentified victims who have yet to come forward.
Anyone with information regarding Matarico was asked to call Juvenile Division detectives at 424-259-7097. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
