Former Easton school employee sentenced for sexual assault of student

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — A former Easton high school employee has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in the Bristol County House of Correction stemming from a 2020 sexual assault of a 15-year-old student.

Matthew Paris, 34, was convicted August 1 on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14.

He was acquitted of rape charges also brought against him in a second case, according to a statement from the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III.

These cases were consolidated from charges in both Bristol and Plymouth Counties.

The sexual assault incident occurred in February of 2020 when the female victim reported that Paris, a para-professional in her shop class, had sexually assaulted her.

Paris worked in this role at Southeastern Regional High School, and began sending the victim social media messages in February of 2020.

She reported that these messages included sexual comments and that Paris also instructed her to delete the messages.

During a February 2020 school vacation period, Paris arranged to meet the victim at an East Bridgewater cemetery where he indecently touched her without her consent.

The victim was observed with Paris by a friend during the encounter via a video call initiated by the victim.

After completing his sentence, Paris will also serve three years of supervised probation, must register as a sex offender and will also wear a GPS bracelet.

He is also prohibited from taking employment that would put him in regular contact with minors under the age of 16 and is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with children under 16.