Matthew Kennington (1970 – ) was a Mormon church member and high school teacher at Maeser Preparatory Academy in Lindon, Utah; was convicted of four counts of forcible sexual abuse in 2011; allegedly groomed and sexually abused one of his students; sentenced in 2011 to nine months in jail and three years of probation.

Matthew Kennington was a Mormon church member and high school teacher at Maeser Preparatory Academy in Lindon, Utah.

In 2011, Kennington was convicted of sex crimes in Utah.

According to court documents, Kennington was originally charged in 2010 with four counts of rape. The charging document was altered by hand to reflect changes to the charges from four counts of rape to four counts of forcible sexual abuse in the 2nd degree.

Kennington was charged/convicted with:

-FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE – 1st Degree Felony (amended to) -2nd Degree Felony/ pleaded guilty

-FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE – 1st Degree Felony (amended to) -2nd Degree Felony/ pleaded guilty

-FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE – 1st Degree Felony (amended to) -2nd Degree Felony/ pleaded guilty

-FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE – 1st Degree Felony (amended to) -2nd Degree Felony/ pleaded guilty

As of 2026, Kennington does not appear in the Utah sex offender registry. His case history in Utah’s online court document system does not mention sex offender registration; Floodlit’s research suggests that he was not required to register as a sex offender as part of his plea deal.

Scott W. Cameron, a former associate dean at Brigham Young University’s (BYU) J. Reuben Clark Law School, wrote a letter in support of Kennington to the judge. Cameron said of Kennington, “I have found him to be a man of principle and integrity.”

According to someone familiar with the case, Kennington was a teacher at Maeser Academy. They stated Kennington groomed a 16/17-year-old female student of his. They said that he was given warnings to stay away from a student, but continued to spend time alone with her. They also said he blamed his pornography addiction and depression for his reason to abuse his student.

If you have any information on Kennington’s LDS membership history, please contact us.

 

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Sources

  1. STATE OF UTAH vs. MATTHEW KENNINGTON CASE NUMBER 101403501 State Felony, Xchange Utah Court, November 18, 2010.
  2. AMERICAN FORK CITY vs. MATTHEW H KENNINGTON CASE NUMBER 101100530 Other Misdemeanor, Xchange Utah Court, April 26, 2010.

  • 1. STATE OF UTAH vs. MATTHEW KENNINGTON CASE NUMBER 101403501 State Felony

    • 20101118
    • News article
    • Xchange Utah Court

    FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT - PROVO DISTRICT COURT
    UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
    STATE OF UTAH vs. MATTHEW KENNINGTON
    CASE NUMBER 101403501 State Felony

    CHARGES

    Charge 1 - 76-5-404 - FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE - 1st Degree Felony (amended to) -2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: September 01, 2009
    Plea: February 14, 2011 Guilty
    Disposition: February 14, 2011 Guilty

    Charge 2 - 76-5-404 - FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE - 1st Degree Felony (amended to) -2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: September 01, 2009
    Plea: February 14, 2011 Guilty
    Disposition: February 14, 2011 Guilty

    Charge 3 - 76-5-404 - FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE - 1st Degree Felony (amended to) -2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: September 01, 2009
    Plea: February 14, 2011 Guilty
    Disposition: February 14, 2011 Guilty

    Charge 4 - 76-5-404 - FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE - 1st Degree Felony (amended to) -2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: September 01, 2009
    Plea: February 14, 2011 Guilty
    Disposition: February 14, 2011 Guilty

    SENTENCE PRISON
    Based on the defendant's conviction of FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE a 2nd Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than one year nor more than fifteen years in the Utah State Prison.
    The prison term is suspended.
    Based on the defendant's conviction of FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE a 2nd Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than one year nor more than fifteen years in the Utah State Prison.
    The prison term is suspended.
    Based on the defendant's conviction of FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE a 2nd Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than one year nor more than fifteen years in the Utah State Prison.
    The prison term is suspended.
    Based on the defendant's conviction of FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE a 2nd Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than one year nor more than fifteen years in the Utah State Prison.
    The prison term is suspended.

    SENTENCE JAIL
    Based on the defendant's conviction of FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE a 2nd Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to a term of 270 day(s) in the Utah County Jail.

    ORDER OF PROBATION
    The defendant is placed on probation for 36 month(s).
    Probation is to be supervised by Adult Probation & Parole.
    Defendant to serve 270 day(s) jail.
    Defendant is to report to the Utah County Jail.
    Defendant is to report by April 19, 2011 by 5.00 p.m..
    Defendant is to pay a fine of 1272.00 which includes the surcharge. Interest may increase the final amount due.
    Pay fine on or before April 18, 2014.

    PROBATION CONDITIONS
    Defendant is ordered to report to Adult Probation and Parole and enter into an agreement and comply strictly with the terms of probation.
    Defendant is ordered to obey all laws, State, Local and Federal, and have no further violations during the probation period.
    Defendant is ordered to notify the Court and Adult Probation and Parole of a current address at all times, and is ordered to make him/herself available to Adult Probation and Parole and the court when requested to do so.
    Defendant is ordered to pay fines, fees, restitution and/or supervision fees at the discretion of Adult Probation and Parole and/or by direction of the Court.
    Defendant is ordered to continue with his/her current counseling.
    Defendant is to report to Adult Probation and Parole within24 hours of his/her release from custody.
    Defendant is ordered to comply with the Probation Violations and Rewards Matrix as directed by Adult Probation and Parole.
    Defendant is ordered to have no contact with females underage 18 unless approved by Adult Probation and Parole. Defendant may have contact with his [REDACTED] until AP&P approves otherwise.
    Defendant is ordered to report to Adult Probation and Parole by 5pm 4/19/11 to enter into probation agreement.

  • 2. AMERICAN FORK CITY vs. MATTHEW H KENNINGTON CASE NUMBER 101100530 Other Misdemeanor

    • 20100426
    • News article
    • Xchange Utah Court

    FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT - PROVO DISTRICT COURT
    UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
    AMERICAN FORK CITY vs. MATTHEW H KENNINGTON
    CASE NUMBER 101100530 Other Misdemeanor

    CHARGES

    Charge 1 - 76-6-206 - CRIMINAL TRESPASS - Infraction
    Offense Date: April 16, 2010
    Location: BEEHIVE CLOTHING
    Plea: April 28, 2010 Not Guilty
    Disposition: June 21, 2010 Dismissed (w/o prej)

    Charge 2 - 76-10-2301 - CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF MINOR - Class BMisdemeanor
    Offense Date: April 16, 2010
    Location: BEEHIVE CLOTHING
    Plea: April 28, 2010 Not Guilty
    Disposition: June 21, 2010 Dismissed (w/o prej)

    06-21-2010 Charge 1 Disposition is Dismissed
    05-16-2026 04:57 PM Page 2 of
    CASE NUMBER: 101100530 Other Misdemeanor3
    06-21-2010 Charge 2 Disposition is Dismissed
    06-21-2010 Case Closed

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Timeline

  • 1970
    Born

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