Updated: Cranston Teacher Indicted for Alleged Sexual Assault of Teen Boy

CRANSTON, RI—A teacher at Western Hills Middle School in Cranston has been indicted for allegedly sexually assaulting a teen boy multiple times more than 10 years ago.

Matt Sheridan was due to appear in court on Thursday on charges of first-degree sexual assault and second-degree sexual assault after the Statewide Grand Jury reported out a secret indictment on Wednesday.

Sheridan, 48, of 32 Marion Avenue, Cranston, is a science teacher at the Cranston school and denied the charges through his lawyer, John E. MacDonald, who said that the accusation is "from a former neighbor and roommate, is over a decade old, is inconsistent with the known facts and completely contrary to his character and reputation as a dedicated teacher and educator."

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin said that Sheridan assaulted a boy "whom he was known to" on "diverse dates" between June 1, 2003 and July 9, 2004.

The victim was 15 and 16 at the time of the assaults.

The victim reported the assault to the state police who conducted the investigation.

Police said the assault "was not connected to Sheridan's role as a school teacher and no other victims have been identified at this time." according to a news release from Kilmartin's office.

Sheridan was arrested Wednesday night by the state police and held overnight at police headquarters before his court appearance Thursday.

Sheridan appeared stoic in Providence Superior Court wearing a white short-sleeved button down shirt before Magistrate Patricia L. Harwood.

The indictment was unsealed this morning at his arraignment. Bail was set at $50,000 with surety and he was ordered to not have any unsupervised contact with minor children or have contact with the victim.

Sheridan is due to return to court on July 20 for a pretrial conference.

Police request that anyone with information regarding other possible assaults or inappropriate behavior by Sheridan to contact the Rhode Island State Police Detective Bureau.

Sheridan, also a member of the executive board of the Cranston Teachers' Alliance, the local teachers union, has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Story is developing. More details forthcoming.

Photo courtesy: ABC6