WHITMAN, Mass. — The Whitman music teacher accused of touching at least one student inappropriately during a classroom lesson faced a judge Tuesday.
Matthew DiMuccio, 32, of Wellesley is charged with touching a student on the inner thigh and buttocks area during a classroom lesson.
"This defendant had made up a game in his music class your honor where he would have the students pose as clay models and move their arms with his own hands," the assistant district attorney said Tuesday.
Prosecutors say DiMuccio would re-position their hands and arms while they were posing as clay-like statues. In one incident, prosecutors say DiMuccio moved a 10-year-old girl's legs by grabbing her inner thigh and buttocks.
Matthew DiMuccio is appearing in court on 2 counts of indecent assault. Prosecutors say the Whitman music teacher made up a game in class where young girls would pose like clay models and he would indecently touch them to change their positions. pic.twitter.com/FS6tG2FjdI
— Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) June 4, 2019
>> Whitman teacher arrested for alleged inappropriate conduct with student
Another time, prosecutors say, "this defendant did move her hands and placed his hands on her chest. His hands were on her chest for approximately 10 seconds.
DiMuccio's attorney told his judge his client learned this lesson in graduate school that the school district helped pay for.
DiMuccio’s attorney says the music teacher did not make the game up. It is something he learned in grad school and he has been doing it in his class for 3 years. The attorney says Whitman even paid for the course where suspect learned the “clay model” game. https://t.co/LNKcyVSmUe
— Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) June 4, 2019
Parents outside of Duval Elementary School in Whitman had lots of questions after hearing the music teacher was arrested for doing something inappropriate during class.
"I was shocked by hearing the news," a father told Boston 25 News.
"Obviously I was surprised and disappointed," a mother said.
The school principal had a meeting with parents on Tuesday afternoon to help them with any questions.
DiMuccio is on leave while the charges are pending. He was put on GPS monitoring after he bailed out.
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