A former choir director from Kettering Middle School has altered his plea in response to charges related to child pornography. Matthew Koehler entered a guilty plea to one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, along with five counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor. These charges, classified as fourth-degree felonies, expose Koehler to a potential maximum sentence of 18 months for each count.
In conjunction with these legal proceedings, Koehler has been designated as a Tier II sex offender. His legal troubles began in August 2024 when he initially pleaded guilty to four counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a plea he later withdrew in October. The indictment for the six existing charges occurred in June.
The investigation into Koehler’s conduct was prompted in November 2023 when a 19-year-old came forward, alleging that Koehler had acted inappropriately while the individual was in middle school. This included exchanging sexually explicit text messages. Subsequent searches of Koehler’s phone revealed two videos containing child pornography and child sexual assault.
In light of these revelations, the Kettering City School District placed Koehler on unpaid administrative leave in November 2023. He tendered his resignation on June 27, 2024, which received approval from the school board by July 9, 2024. Sentencing for Koehler has been scheduled for May 16.