Ex-coach indicted on 32 charges

1/26/2006

ADRIAN - A former Tecumseh High School track coach was arraigned in Lenawee County District Court yesterday on 32 charges related to a series of parties he hosted for Tecumseh students.

Matthew Peterson, 33, of Tecumseh, faced one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old student at one of the parties. Among the other charges against Mr. Peterson, who never taught at Tecumseh: five counts of child sexually abusive activity, one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes, 12 counts of distributing obscene matter to children, and 11 misdemeanor counts of serving alcohol to minors.

The parties were at Mr. Peterson's home between March and June, 2003, said Tecumseh police Chief Mack Haun, whose department spent two years investigating the incidents.

Mr. Peterson was being held in the county jail.

Bond was set at $205,000 on the charges related to the parties. Mr. Peterson already was in the county jail for an alleged assault against his wife that took place in November. Bond was set at $2.2 million on that charge.