Crime & Safety

Criminal Record Cleared for Former Montco Commissioner Jim Matthews

Jim Matthews had been charged with a misdemeanor of false swearing.

A judge in Montgomery County has allowed an expungement order in the misdemeanor criminal case against a former county Commissioner, Jim Matthews, according to CBS Philly online.

Matthews, 64, the former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, will now see the paperwork, arrest records, criminal charges and other information from his case be removed. Exhibits and grand jury transcripts will remain.  

The case had its impetus in his testimony given in a grand jury trial regarding accusations of county government corruption; following the testimony he was charged with a misdemeanor of false swearing.

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He was required to pay a fine. He also gave a donation of $12,000 to the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge. 

Matthews, of Lower Gwynedd, had agreed to sign on with a probation program for first-time offenders. He did not admit guilt and served a year of probation.  

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His defense attorney, Jud Aaron was happy about the news. “It means that the slate is wiped clean and Jim Matthews, who gave years of excellent service to Montgomery County, is moving forward in his life,” said Aaron to KYW Newsradio. “And he’s delighted as well.”

Jim Matthews is the brother of Chris Matthews, the host of MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” according to phillyBurbs.com.

 

 

 

 

 


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