Day care worker charged in fifth child molestation case
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A day care worker already charged with molesting four boys at Tender Care Learning Center in Scott has been charged with fondling a fifth boy who he met at church.
Allegheny County detectives said Matthew Keith Byars, 25, of the North Side, molested the victim, who is now 13, on an ongoing basis from the time he was 7 until he was 10. Police said the victim reported the fondling to his parents in July 2008 but failed to disclose the abuse during a forensic interview that took place thereafter. Because of that, no charges could be filed then.
The victim came forward and disclosed the abuse in a forensic interview earlier this month after seeing TV news broadcasts of Mr. Byars' arrest in the other four unrelated cases, according to an affidavit supporting charges in the fifth case.
According to the affidavit, Mr. Byars fondled the boy at the suspect's former home in Pleasant Hills and at the Community House in South Park County Park during a church cookout.
In the other cases, Mr. Byars is accused by Pittsburgh police of molesting a 9-year-old boy at the suspect's North Side home and Scott police charged him with molesting the 9-year-old boy and three others at the center. The boys ranged in age from 7 to 12 at the time of the alleged abuse.
Mr. Byars was arrested Friday in the Allegheny County Jail on the latest charges of indecent assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children. He is awaiting preliminary hearings in the other cases on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, corruption of minors and sexual abuse of children.
First Published July 23, 2011 12:49 pm
