The Legal Herald Logo
Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News

Greenwood, IN - Matthew Hockersmith, a Teacher and Coach at Greenwood High School, Charged With Child Seduction

Greenwood, IN - Matthew Hockersmith, a Teacher and Coach at Greenwood High School, Charged With Child Seduction
Published: December 15, 2021
By: Darla Medina
Last Updated on December 15, 2021

High School Teacher Charged With Child Seduction

IndyStar has reported that an arrest has been made regarding an inappropriate relationship between a student and a teacher at Greenwood High School, located at 615 W Smith Valley Rd, Greenwood, IN 46143.

On December 13, 2021, 40-year-old Matthew Hockersmith was arrested. Parents of a female student were worried about the relationship between the teacher and their daughter so they reached out to the authorities. At the request of the investigators, the parents allowed their daughter's phone to be searched. They discovered multiple text messages between Hockersmith and the girl, even one where he suggested they use a hidden messaging app that was password-protected. The messages between the two were found to be sexual in nature.

During an interview, the student explained that she had a close relationship with Hockersmith. She was a student in one of Hockersmith's classes and one of his teaching assistants. According to the report, she further alleged that things progressed quicker than she was comfortable with but that she did not know how to end the relationship. She claimed she did not want to have a physical relationship with the teacher but disclosed that sexual intercourse occurred three times.

Hockersmith also admitted to the inappropriate relationship and communication with the student, including sexual photos and messages. He claimed the relationship began in September or October this year. He was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with three counts of child seduction.

Jeff Gibson - Attorney comments on Investigation Launched into Misconduct Allegations at Kokomo Catholic Church
Hello, I’m attorney Jeff Gibson.
If you or a loved one is a survivor of sexual abuse, I’d be happy to discuss your legal options. Call me on the number below. It costs nothing, and it would be my honor to help you.
(888) 997-3792

Can a School Be Held Liable For School Sexual Abuse? 

Attorney contributor Jeff Gibson is an experienced school sex abuse lawyer in the state of Indiana. Jeff recently shared some information regarding the legal right of school sex abuse survivors to sue negligent schools

"Schools should take the safety of their students seriously by implementing a high level of safety precautions. Such measures can include conducting rigorous background checks, installing security cameras, and reporting any instances of misconduct. These measures help reduce the risk of injury and violent crimes, including sexual abuse. Too many times lately, we see reports about sexual predators gaining employment inside a school's faculty. They take up roles of power and trust, like teachers and coaches. These predators can easily use this power and trust to seduce and lure their victims."

"If a school has failed to implement safety precautions and abuse takes place, the victim and their family may have grounds to pursue not only a criminal lawsuit but a civil lawsuit as well. School safety negligence can lead to the school being held liable in a case of sexual abuse on the school campus or with a member of the school's payroll."

"Victims and their families of school sexual abuse should contact an experienced school sex abuse lawyer to explore their legal options. In each state, the laws that govern the right to file are different, and they may include a statute of limitations. Knowing your legal rights is essential in seeking justice in cases of sexual abuse." 

Sources:

IndyStar

Got A Tip Or Questions 
About A Story?
Call Us!
The Legal Herald
888-997-3792
About the Author
Darla Medina
About Darla Medina
Editor: Darla is a content writer with a focus on the legal field. She covers cases of sexual abuse, drunk driving, and preventable violent crime for the Legal Herald. Contact Darla: darla@eaglepeakmarketing.com This article was fact checked prior to publishing by this author to ensure compliance with our rigorous editorial standards. We will only use authoritative sources. Our values compel us to provide only trustworthy information. If you find an error, please contact us.
Read some recent posts
Find A Local Lawyer

  • Details
  • Incident

Find A Local Lawyer

Want To Contribute Breaking News? 
Contact Us Today
Legal Herald Logoinfo@legalherald.com
10355 Kensington Shore Dr. #102
Orlando, FL 32827
Call: (888) 997-3792
© 2020 The Legal Herald, a division of Eagle Peak Marketing, LLC. All rights reserved.

We would like our readers to know that the information in this story may be sourced from secondary sources and may therefore contain inaccuracies. We will correct them if and when they are brought to our attention or we discover them through our editing process. If you have any concerns about this post, please contact us immediately and we will rectify issues. DISCLAIMER: The material contained in this post is for general informational purposes. It is not intended to constitute or express legal or medical advice. Any laws referenced herein are substantially based on general legal principles and may not be applicable to your particular situation. Laws can often be different from one jurisdiction to the next. The Legal Herald is not a law firm. Law firms and lawyers from around the country may apply to become a sponsor or contributor to The Legal Herald.
SitemapMedia RoomDisclaimer / Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy