L.A. teacher allegedly abused teenage student, authorities say: ‘His crystal meth’

A Los Angeles County school district teacher became so infatuated with a middle school student she’s accused of sexually assaulting that she left her husband, described the boy as her “crystal meth” and said she was willing to “go to jail for him,” a. said the prosecutor in court on Tuesday.

Colleen Jo Matarico, 43, was arrested last week and charged with seven counts of sexually assaulting a boy she met when she was 12, authorities said. The alleged sexual assault spanned more than a year, according to the criminal complaint. Matarico is also accused of giving the boy marijuana. Last week, Los Angeles police said the teacher “set him up”.

“The charges against Ms. Matarico are deeply disturbing and violate the trust of the students, their families and the entire community,” said Los Angeles County Atty. George Gascón in a statement last week. I want to thank the young victim for her courage and her decision to report the abuse.”

Matarico pleaded not guilty when he appeared in LA City Court on Tuesday. After his attorney asked the judge to release him without bail, Deputy Dist. He said. Ariel Anson spoke at length about the abuse allegations, saying she had text messages that showed Matarico had no intention of ending the relationship if she was released.

Anson said Matarico began an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old student. The alleged abuse occurred between August and November of 2023, according to the complaint.

But two of the eight charges against Matarico describe recent behavior. After learning that police were investigating, Matarico’s behavior toward the boy became “very bad,” Anson said.

In later days, Anson said, Matarico drove to the new high school and waited for him in his car, where they allegedly had sex. Anson also accused Matarico of communicating with a third party, one of the alleged victim’s friends, using a direct message on Instagram to continue communicating with the boy.

In the text messages described by Anson, Matarico is alleged to have said that she was in love with this young man, that she left her husband because of the relationship, and that “he is the only person who would go to jail.

“He is her crystal meth,” Anson said, referring to the messages he allegedly sent using that language. Anson said the boy will not be safe if Matarico is released from prison.

Anson described Matarico as “estranged” from her husband.

“Many people from his family begged him, asking him to end this relationship [with the boy],” said Anson in court.

Anson did not directly present documentary evidence in court on Tuesday. LA County Public Defender Carlos Bido said the teacher should be released from custody with electronic monitoring.

Matarico has no prior criminal record, according to Bido. He has two children and grandchildren to look after, he has worked as a teacher in this area for 24 years, said Bido.

“Ms. Matarico is cooperating fully with the legal process and is willing to face these serious allegations in court,” Bido said in a statement to The Times. “We ask the public to respect the presumption of innocence and avoid speculation as we work to gather all relevant facts.”

LA County Superior Court Judge Susan J. De Witt refused to release Matarico, who remains in custody on $590,000 bond. He will appear in court again in late November.

In a statement released last week, the Los Angeles Police Department said it was searching for more victims. Anson said he could not comment on whether anyone else is accusing Matarico.

An email to the Los Angeles Unified School District seeking comment was not immediately returned, though Bido described Matarico as “on leave” from his job.

De Witt also granted a request for a restraining order preventing Matarico from speaking with youth or going near the home or school. Authorities declined to name the school where Matarico works to protect the suspect’s identity.

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This story first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.