LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / August 14, 1999

NORCO – No additional charges have yet been filed against Brian Matherne Friday morning, according to the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office. However, aspokesman said more possible victims are being interviewed and more charges are expected.

“We’ve identified a number of people we’re talking to,” Capt. Patrick Yoessaid Friday. “There’s going to be more charges, but he’s not goinganywhere.”A Norco mother close to the Sacred Heart School said this week that victims are reluctant to come forward due to their own feelings of guilt and embarrassment.

Matherne, 44, a coach and teacher at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Norco, was arrested Aug. 5 and charged with more than 400 counts ofvarious sex crimes involving male juveniles. He has denied all charges.”The whole town feels so betrayed,” the Norco mother commented on condition of anonymity. She added as to the number of possible victim:”Sixty’s got to be a low number.”Matherne faces charges that he had molested at least nine children ranging in age from 11 to 17 over the past 13 years. He had been a coach andteacher at Sacred Heart for 23 years.

Matherne was charged with 300 counts of molestation of a juvenile, 60 counts of sexual battery, 30 counts of oral sexual battery, 10 counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, nine counts of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles and two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

He remains in custody with a $1.5 million bond set by 29th JudicialDistrict Judge Robert Chaisson and is on suicide watch in the parish jail.

The Norco mother, whose children were all taught by Matherne, added that when Matherne’s suspension was announced in May several parents wore camouflage-colored ribbons in protest. Some of those parents, sheclaimed, have since discovered their own children were alleged victims.

According to New Orleans Archdiocese spokesman Thomas Finney, the Archdiocese first learned of the allegations against Matherne in late February from the father of one alleged victim.

Auxiliary Bishop Gregory Aymond attempted to investigate the claim but was not allowed to directly interview the alleged victim. In April, asecond complaint was brought to the attention of the Archdiocese by a different person. Because of the second allegation, Finney added, Mathernewas placed on immediate suspension from his position at Sacred Heart.

The sheriff’s office was not notified, as no children had made complaints and the Archdiocese’s investigation was inconclusive because they did not interview the alleged victim.

“They took the legal position, not the human position,” the Norco mother said. She continued, “I’m grieving for the victims and for the Brian weknew, because he’s dead to us.”Yoes added as to the Archdiocese role in the case: “Whether or not they had an obligation to report is not something we’re focusing on.”He concluded: “We’re more concerned with the victims.”A crisis intervention team has begun work with the faculty at Sacred Heart this week and will continue to work with students when they return.

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