Matthew Jason Rueckert

Matthew Rueckert was an LDS church member who taught history at West Jordan High School as of 2023.

Rueckert was arrested in March 2023 and charged with numerous felony charges of rape and other sex crimes.

FLOODLIT’s sources indicate that Rueckert served a full-time mission for the Mormon church in the early 2010s and was married in an LDS temple after that.

Allegedly, Rueckert used his position of trust to prey upon his victim, who was a student in his class. He also allegedly committed the crime of obstruction by instructing the victim to delete all content on her cell phone.and allegedly tried to contact the victim through colleagues to communicate with her.

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Sex: M Age: 32
Height: 511 Weight: 190
Race: WHITE Hair Color: BROWN
Eye Color: BLUE

Inmate Information
Booking #: 23009348 SO#: 438849
INS: Citizen: UNITED STATES
COB: Utah

Incarceration Information
Current Location: MAIN County: SALT LAKE
Current Housing Section: 01 Current Housing Block: C
Current Housing Cell: 13 Current Housing Bed: B
Booked Date: 03/02/2023 Release Date:

Alias Information
MATT

Detainer Information
There is no detainer information for this inmate.

Bond Information
Case #: Amount: $0.00 Status: Open Posted By: Post Date: 03/03/2023

Charge Information
Case # Offense Date Code Description Grade Degree
03/02/2023 76-5-402(3) RAPE UT F1
03/02/2023 76-5-402.2 OBJECT RAPE UT F1
03/02/2023 76-5-403 FORCIBLE SODOMY UT F1
03/02/2023 76-5-404(3)(A) FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE UT F2
03/02/2023 76-8-306(3)(A) OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE UT F2

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from Rueckert’s LinkedIn profile as of March 3, 2023:

Matthew Rueckert
Secondary Teacher at Jordan School District

Riverton, Utah, United States Contact info

85 connections

AboutAbout
Experienced Educator with a demonstrated history in a variety of fields. Skilled in Research, Purchasing, Public Speaking, Curriculum Development, and Microsoft Office. Strong education professional with a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) focused in Secondary Education and Teaching from Utah Valley University.Experienced Educator with a demonstrated history in a variety of fields. Skilled in Research, Purchasing, Public Speaking, Curriculum Development, and Microsoft Office. Strong education professional with a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) focused in Secondary Education and Teaching from Utah Valley University.
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Matthew’s recent posts and comments will be displayed here.Matthew’s recent posts and comments will be displayed here.

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ExperienceExperience

Jordan School District logo
Secondary TeacherSecondary Teacher
Jordan School DistrictJordan School District Jul 2017 – Present · 5 yrs 9 mosJul 2017 – Present · 5 yrs 9 mos
Alpine School District logo
EducatorEducator
Alpine School DistrictAlpine School District Jul 2016 – Jun 2017 · 1 yrJul 2016 – Jun 2017 · 1 yr Vista Heights Middle SchoolVista Heights Middle School
Social Studies Teacher.Social Studies Teacher.
Jordan School District logo
Jordan School DistrictJordan School District
2 yrs2 yrs
Academic MentorAcademic Mentor
Apr 2015 – Jul 2016 · 1 yr 4 mosApr 2015 – Jul 2016 · 1 yr 4 mos
ISS/Student SupervisorISS/Student Supervisor
Aug 2014 – Apr 2015 · 9 mosAug 2014 – Apr 2015 · 9 mos
Purchasing AgentPurchasing Agent
National DMENational DME Feb 2012 – Feb 2014 · 2 yrs 1 moFeb 2012 – Feb 2014 · 2 yrs 1 mo
Key player in sourcing, ordering and tracking Inventory Outsourcing orders for hospitals and clinics throughout the country.Key player in sourcing, ordering and tracking Inventory Outsourcing orders for hospitals and clinics throughout the country.

EducationEducation

Utah Valley University logo
Utah Valley UniversityUtah Valley University
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Secondary Education and TeachingBachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Secondary Education and Teaching 2014 – 20162014 – 2016
Salt Lake Community College logo
Salt Lake Community CollegeSalt Lake Community College
Associate of Science (A.S.), Higher Education/Higher Education AdministrationAssociate of Science (A.S.), Higher Education/Higher Education Administration 2011 – 2014

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Thanks to your donations, FLOODLIT has obtained court documents in Rueckert’s case.

Here is part of the probable cause affidavit, with the victim’s name redacted:

”

DECLARATION OF PROBABLE CAUSE:

Your affiant bases probable cause on information and evidence collected by West Jordan Police Department, Case No. WJ23-10135 and the following:

The statement of 16-year-old [Victim] that she attends West Jordan High School and MATTHEW JASON Rueckert is a teacher and golf coach at the school. [Victim] stated that at the beginning of the school year 2022, in Salt Lake County, Rueckert invited her to hang out in his classroom, where they would talk or watch movies together during his conference period. [Victim] stated that they started texting more regularly. From there, the relationship progressed to nonsexual touching like Rueckert touching her shoulder or knee. [Victim] stated that towards the end of November 2022, [Victim] was in Rueckert’s classroom watching a movie where the characters were getting intimate. [Victim] made a joke saying, “At that point just do it.” Rueckert then said, “Maybe we should just kiss.” [Victim] stated that they kissed. [Victim] stated that over the next few months, their relationship progressed and became more physical. [Victim] stated that they began locking the door. [Victim] explained that when she entered the classroom, she or Rueckert would ask the other if they should lock the door and that was how [Victim] knew they were going to be intimate. [Victim] stated that she began being late or missing other classes regularly or going after school to spend time with Rueckert in his classroom.

[Victim] stated that Rueckert would feel her breasts on the outside of her shirt and eventually moved his hand underneath her shirt and bra feeling her breasts with his hand on her skin. [Victim] stated that this happened more than one time. [Victim] stated that Rueckert would also touch her everywhere including her buttocks and vagina over and under her clothing while moving his hands across her body when they were being intimate. [Victim] described that Rueckert would grab and squeeze her butt while kissing, that Rueckert would start on the outside of her pants and then Rueckert would move his hand underneath [Victim]’s pants but over her underwear and feel [Victim]’s buttocks. [Victim] stated that Rueckert would feel her vagina on the outside of her pants, would then unbutton her pants and move his hand underneath her pants, over her underwear touching her vagina. Rueckert then placed his hand underneath her underwear and inserted his fingers into [Victim]’s vagina. [Victim] stated that this happened more than one time.

[Victim] stated that eventually she started touching Rueckert’s penis over his clothes. [Victim] explained that the first time it happened, Rueckert grabbed [Victim]’s hand and moved it down to his penis and placed it over the clothing. [Victim] explained that she felt Rueckert’s penis was hard. [Victim] described that she was nervous the first few times, but eventually got comfortable and would just feel Rueckert’s penis with her hands on her own.

[Victim] stated that she had sexual intercourse with Rueckert two times, and it occurred by Rueckert’s desk. [Victim] stated that the first time it happened, Rueckert unbuttoned his pants and pulled his underwear down, exposing his penis. [Victim] stated that Rueckert put her hand on his penis, and she gave him a “hand job.” [Victim] stated that they began to undress, and she took her pants and underwear off, but kept her shirt on. [Victim] laid on the floor and Rueckert was kneeling next to her. Rueckert told [Victim], “You got to use your mouth for a second” and Rueckert’s penis went into [Victim]’s mouth. After giving Rueckert oral sex, [Victim] laid back down on the floor and Rueckert put his penis into her vagina. [Victim] stated that Rueckert ejaculated all over his shirt and on her stomach.

The second time [Victim] had intercourse with Rueckert, it was the same as the first and happened on the floor by Rueckert’s desk. [Victim] stated that it started by kissing and Rueckert was touching her body all over with his hands and was touching and feeling her breasts. [Victim] stated that she gave Rueckert oral sex and Rueckert put his penis into her vagina and he ejaculated on his shirt. [Victim] stated that Rueckert also put his mouth on her vagina and used his tongue and put it inside of her vagina while inserting his fingers into [Victim]’s vagina.

[Victim] stated there was another time she was in the classroom with Rueckert where he was touching her breast and she began touching him. [Victim] stated they were standing up and kissing and [Victim] offered to use her mouth on his penis. Rueckert sat down on a chair near his desk and [Victim] kneeled in front of him and put his penis in her mouth. [Victim] did that for a couple minutes but stopped because it was time for class. Rueckert pulled up his pants and turned the lights on.

[Victim] stated that she and Rueckert spend time together outside of school. [Victim] stated that one time, they were in Rueckert’s black truck and were in a church parking lot. [Victim] stated that they were kissing and Rueckert touched her body with his hands, and grabbed her breasts over the clothes.

[Victim] stated that Rueckert made comments to her that he loved her and how much they liked each other. [Victim] expressed that she felt she was special to Rueckert and that she had a desire to please him by giving him something in return.

[Victim] stated that she and Rueckert communicated through text messages on their iPhones. [Victim] stated that on or about February 21, 2023, in Salt Lake County, she received a phone call from Rueckert. Rueckert told [Victim] that somebody had reported them to school administration and that she needed to delete everything between them on her cell phone, so he didn’t get them into trouble. [Victim] stated that she agreed and deleted all content between her and Rueckert.

MOTION FOR NO BAIL HOLD:

Pursuant to Utah Code 77-20-201(1) the State requests that the defendant be held without bail until further notice in this matter on the following grounds:

The defendant is charged with multiple felonies and based upon the above probable cause there is substantial evidence supporting the charges and clear and convincing evidence that the defendant would constitute a substantial danger to any other individual or to the community or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court, if released on bail.

In this case, the defendant is a high school teacher and golf coach. The defendant and the victim began a relationship at the beginning of the school year in 2022. The victim would spend a lot of time in the defendant’s classroom hanging out or watching movies. The victim disclosed that the relationship changed when they started kissing and the defendant started touching her breasts, vagina, and buttocks over and under the clothing. The victim disclosed that she and the defendant had sex at least two times, they gave each other oral sex, she touched his penis, and the defendant put his fingers inside her vagina. The victim stated that all this happened in the defendant’s classroom. The victim disclosed one incident in the defendant’s truck where the defendant touched her breasts while they were kissing. When the defendant learned about the investigation by school administration, he called the victim and told her to delete all communication between them in her phone, so he wouldn’t get into trouble. The victim stated that she felt she was in a relationship with the defendant and the defendant told her that he loved her. The defendant used his position of trust to prey upon the victim. The defendant is a danger to the victim and the community. Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the defendant should be held without bail.”

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