Tuesday, June 24, 2014
BENTONVILLE -- A former Bentonville School District employee pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that accuse him of sexually abusing three students.
Ali Martin Matar Jr., 21, of Lowell entered the pleas during his arraignment before Circuit Judge Brad Karren. Matar is charged with two counts of rape, a Class Y felony, and sexual assault in the second degree, a Class B felony. Prosecutors filed the charges shortly before his arraignment.
The Charges
Rape is normally punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years. Ali Matar faces from 25 to 40 years or life imprisonment on rape charges if convicted because Arkansas law requires a 25-year minimum sentence for anyone convicted of raping a child 13 and under. Sexual assault is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years.
Source: Staff Report
Matar is being held in the Benton County Jail on $250,000 bond.
Karren scheduled a jury trial to begin Jan. 27. An omnibus hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 1. Pretrial hearings are set for 1:30 p.m. Sept 26 and 8 a.m. Jan. 26.
"It's too early to make any comments," Paul Waddell, Matar's attorney, said after the arraignment. "He's presumed innocent, and there most likely will be a jury trial."
Matar worked as an Adventure Club leader for the school district since October. He was fired after his arrest.
Adventure Club is run by the school district's Childcare Enrichment Services department. It offers child care from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and from 2:30 to 6 p.m. during the school year for students in kindergarten through sixth grade at each of the district's elementary and middle schools.
Matar was arrested May 14 in connection with raping a 5-year-old student at R.E. Baker Elementary School.
The girl disclosed "Mr. Ollie" inappropriately touched her when she was alone with him in the library, according to court documents.
Matar initially told police he noticed multiple times the girl had her hand in her shorts and was scratching herself, and each time he removed her hand by placing his hand inside the girl's shorts. Matar said he may have accidentally touched the girl, according to the affidavit.
Matar later admitted the girl had her hand on her thigh and not in her shorts, the affidavit states. Matar told police he became curious and placed his hand in the girl's clothing and touched her for 1 to 2 seconds, according to court documents.
He was arrested a few days later in connection with sexually abusing two 6-year-old girls at R.E. Baker Elementary.
The parents of the two girls came forward with concerns after Matar's first arrest, Bentonville Police Chief Jon Simpson said.
The older girls also reported Matar had inappropriately touched them while they were at school, according to court documents.
NW News on 06/24/2014