CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The former Montgomery Central High School teacher who showed nude photos of himself to a 17-year-old student has been arrested on four counts of supplying obscene material to minors.
Matthew Gay Vedder, 52, was arrested Wednesday morning and booked into the Montgomery County Jail, according to MCSO arrest documents.
Vedder had admitted to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigators that on March 9, he showed the student the photos of himself, according to previous reports. Vedder, who is married to Director of Schools Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder, told investigators it was an accident. The student and her family maintain it was intentional.
When the incident was reported, Vedder was immediately placed on alternative worksite off school property. He resigned from the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System on April 9, one month after the incident.
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The 19th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office recused itself from the case, and the matter was referred to the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. TDAGC assigned the case to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Sumner County, led by District Attorney General Thomas Dean, according to the agency.
The specific charge against Vedder is in TN Code 39-17-911: exhibition of obscene material to minors, which is a Class A misdemeanor. The law states, “It is unlawful for any person to knowingly … exhibit or make available to a minor … any picture, photograph … or similar visual representation or image of a person or portion of the human body, that depicts nudity (or) sexual conduct … and that is harmful to minors.”
Class A misdemeanors are the most serious, but are short of felony charges. They can carry a penalty of up to 11 months and 29 days in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,500. Vedder was charged with four counts.
This article will be updated.