Ex-choir member charged with lewdness with minor

The Salt Lake Tribune/October 7, 2006

Provo - An ex-Mormon Tabernacle Choir member was charged Friday with four felonies and three misdemeanors for allegedly taking pictures of four nude boys during a July camping trip.

Robert Matthews, 51, is accused of taking video and still pictures with four boys, ages 7, 10, 15 and 18, while camping at the Diamond Fork Hot Springs, court documents state.

Police say that on July 31, Matthews directed the boys into positions while taking pictures and remained nude himself. During a police interview, Matthews allegedly admitted to swimming nude and taking at least two still shots of the boys.

Mathews - who was arrested last week - was charged with four second-degree felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and three class A misdemeanor counts of lewdness involving a child.

He was released from the Utah County jail after posting $25,000 bail. His next court appearance is a scheduling hearing on Oct. 25 before Judge Anthony Schofield.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had earlier issued a statement that any church member convicted of child abuse would face "Church disciplinary action."

Matthews had been released from his choir position pending the outcome of the police investigation.