Former wrestling coach indicted on rape charges
Suspect also taught at a Gallia County high school
A former teacher and wrestling coach at a Gallia County high school was indicted on rape and other sex abuse charges, with prosecutors alleging he and his wife abused student athletes for over a decade.
Prosecutors accused Matthew Huck of raping a teenager who was a student attending River Valley High School, part of Gallia County Local Schools, during a nighttime event held at his house in August 2004, according to a Friday news release.
The indictment further alleges that Huck unlawfully assisted his then wife, Michal Paige Huck, when she engaged in sexual activity with two male students between the ages of 13 and 16. Michal Paige Huck, a former substitute teacher and cheerleading advisor, was indicted last August, and her trial is ongoing, according to court records.
Police arrested Huck on Friday and are holding him in Gallia County Jail before a Monday court date, according to the jail's website.
The Dispatch previously reported on a lawsuit against Gallia County Local Schools that alleged administrators at the high school knew Matthew and Michal Paige Huck had engaged in sexual conduct with several students, both male and female, and did nothing about it for about 15 years.
Matthew Huck was an agriculture teacher and coached the high school's wrestling team. The news release described his employment as "former," but district administration could not be reached to confirm his employment status; he still was listed on the district's staff listing on its website as of Friday morning.
The Hucks divorced in 2020, according to court records.
The case was investigated by special prosecutors, according to the release. One of the special prosecutors, Columbus-based Mark Weaver, said in a release that Huck took advantage his position to sexually abuse and rape high school students.
“Parents in this community trusted Matthew Huck to look out for their kids and he betrayed that trust,” Weaver said. “The evidence makes it clear that Matthew Huck now must face justice.”
Gallia County Local Schools could not be immediately reached for comment.
Weaver also thanked the victim of the rape, who "bravely came forward to tell us what happened."
“She did the right thing and her willingness to speak up may well save others from being victimized," Weaver said.
In all, Matthew Huck faces three third-degree felony charges of complicity to commit unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and one first-degree felony charge of rape. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 26 years in prison and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Lawsuit alleges district knew of sexual abuse
The lawsuit, filed in federal court last year, alleged multiple principals of River Valley High School and at least one former superintendent of Gallia County Local Schools knew about the allegations against Matthew and Michal Paige Huck, as early as 2004 and had failed to investigate and report sexual abuse.
The allegations detail numerous actions said to have occurred between 2004 and 2019 involving as many as eight students, including multiple high schoolers who wrestled for Matthew Huck at River Valley High School, in Bidwell.
According to the court documents, the Hucks hosted co-ed sleepovers, parties and "lock-ins" at their home, during which some of the sexual activity occurred, including playing pornography on a TV for the students. At a lock-in in November 2004, the lawsuit states, Paige Huck "engaged in sexual intercourse with numerous male students" while her husband watched.
The civil court case remains active in the U.S. Federal Ohio Southern District Court.
@Colebehr_report Cbehrens@dispatch.com