Pratum Elementary School Teacher Arrested on Sex Abuse Charges

The teacher allegedly offended the student over a period of two years

Matthew Gould Photo: Marion County Sheriff

(PRATUM) - Marion County Sheriff`s Detectives have arrested a Pratum Elementary School teacher on allegations of child sex abuse.

43-year-old Matthew Gould, of Silverton, was arrested by detectives on multiple child sex abuse charges.

Gould has been on paid administrative leave since Tuesday morning when he arrived for work at Pratum Elementary School, near Silverton, where he was a teacher.

Marion County Sheriff`s spokesman Kevin Rau says Gould`s alleged victim is a 14-year-old male student at the school. School officials reported the case to police after apparently receiving information from a source in the community late Monday afternoon.

Rau says the investigation, which is ongoing, revealed that Gould allegedly offended against the student on multiple occasions over a period of approximately two years.

On Thursday, school officials sent a letter home with students to notifying parents about this incident.

Gould was arrested and booked at the Marion County Jail on multiple counts of 1st Degree Sex Abuse. Additional charges may be added Rau said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Tyler Chapman at (503) 566-6910.