Former middle school music teacher withdraws guilty plea in child porn case

KETTERING — A former Kettering City Schools choir director changed his plea to not guilty and will now move forward to trial on child pornography charges.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, Matthew Koehler and his lawyer unveiled that startling decision 10 minutes before he was supposed to be sentenced after initially pleading guilty to four counts.

Judge Kimberly Melnick was not referring to Matthew Koehler changing his plea giving her heartburn.

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“That gives me a little heartburn,” Judge Kimberly Melnick said in court.

The judge said she was worried that his last-minute change of heart would make him give up his right to a speedy trial.

The judge then noted that Koheler’s lawyer plans to challenge the evidence gathered against him when police served a search warrant.

Koehler is a former choir director who mostly worked at Kettering Middle School but also did some work at the high school. Police began their investigation when 19-year-old former student claimed Koehler sent inappropriate texts when that person was still in school.

Betty Borders said she is glad that former student spoke up. It led to police launching an investigation and serving a search warrant.

Police claim they found child pornography on Koehler’s computer or devices and a grand jury approved charges against him.

Kathy Gonce said she will follow the rest of this case closely. She’s glad the former student reported, leading to Koehler being placed on leave and eventually resigning from his school position.

“So I think it’s pretty brave of a student, or a former student to come forward,” Gonce said.

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