MINNEPAOLIS (WCCO) – A 36-year-old Stillwater man who taught at a Wisconsin high school is accused of having sex with two students from that school at his home, according to charges filed Thursday by the Washington County Attorney.
Matthew Robert Koenen was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the case. Koenen was a teacher at Grantsburg High School in Grantsburg, Wis. Koenen and his wife were both teachers at the school in the spring of 2012.
According to the charges, Koenen developed relationships with at least two 16-year-old female students in person, online and through text messages.
The complaint says Koenen started a relationship with one of the students while on a school trip to Washington D.C. for the National History Day competition. His wife was also on the trip with the group. Koenen had known the girl since she was in seventh grade and, when they returned from the trip, the two started to communicate by phone, email and text messages.
Koenen allegedly used three different email accounts and two different cell phones, all hidden from his wife, to communicate with the girl. He invited the girl to his home in August 2012 and told her not to tell her parents, the complaint states. When she got there, he put his child down for a nap and then engaged in sexual acts with the girl.
The complaint states Koenen engaged in criminal sexual conduct with the girl at least three or four more times after that day while his wife was out of town. The student ended the relationship in December 2012.
According to the complaint, Koenen developed a relationship with another student in May 2012 after she was struggling with her grades. The two formed a close relationship and their conversations eventually turned sexual in nature.
On Aug. 28, 2012, Koenen arrived home to find the girl at his home and he engaged in criminal sexual conduct with the girl, the complaint states. Their relationship continued until May 2013. The student eventually admitted having the relationship with Koenen to school officials, and he was asked to resign, according to the complaint.
Koenen faces up to 15 years in prison and $30,000 in fines if convicted.
