A Lakeland High School band teacher may plead his case before a jury after a magistrate ruled Wednesday there was sufficient evidence to move it to trial court following graphic testimony from a former student he is accused of sexually assaulting.
The now 18-year-old woman spent more than an hour on the stand at Matthew Stevens' preliminary hearing recounting her story of their sexual relationship that, according to her, began while she was a 17-year-old senior at Lakeland participating in the school band.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.
"It went further than just a student-teacher relationship," she said of Mr. Stevens, 31. Police charged him in February with three felony offenses, including institutional sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors. After he was charged, the school suspended him without pay.
"He was more of a boyfriend to me than just a teacher," she said, maintaining her composure while she told lurid details of their romance in a packed courtroom filled with both her family and Mr. Stevens' family.
She detailed the evolution of their relationship, saying they exchanged text messages tinged with sexual undertones, which led to kissing, and then to her performing oral sex on him behind the closed door of the school's band room closet.
In response to questioning by Deputy District Attorney Jennifer McCambridge, she said they had so many sexual encounters - including in his office, in a uniform closet, by a school stage and at his home - that she could not recall the exact number.
Their relationship ended after she graduated from Lakeland in 2012 and started taking classes at a college outside of Lackawanna County, according to testimony.
While she spoke, Mr. Stevens kept his gaze fixed on her. She rarely met his gaze.
Sitting at a table next to his attorney, Joseph D. Caraciolo of Harrisburg, Mr. Stevens scribbled notes during the first few minutes of her testimony, then stopped when she began talking at length about their sexual encounters. She was the only witness called.
Speaking to reporters outside the Lackawanna County Courthouse after Magisterial District Judge John Pesota held all three charges for county court, Mr. Caraciolo said he heard no other evidence at the hearing supporting "her story."
"Many times cases have been brought on false allegations," Mr. Caraciolo said, likening the prosecution's case to the Salem witch trials. He said he intends to vigorously defend his client and present the case to a jury.
"It's by no means all the evidence," Miss McCambridge said after the hearing ended.
Mr. Stevens' formal arraignment is set for April 26. He remains free on $75,000 bail.
Contact the writer: smcconnell@timesshamrock.com