Bond set for Suffolk man accused of having child porn

SUFFOLK

The question before the court Friday was whether Stephen Edward Matze - with a sex-crime conviction 21 years ago and facing new charges of child pornography - would pose a threat to the community if let out of jail on bond.

Matze, 53, was living at home with his aging parents and helping to support them when police seized his computer on a search warrant last fall.

Matze was suspected of sexually battering an emotionally handicapped boy, according to court testimony Friday. The boy was unable to testify and Matze was never convicted of the crime, prosecutor Charlotte Purkey said.

But police say they found child pornography on the computer, and Matze could face more than 30 charges of possessing child pornography. He was also convicted of sexual battery of a child in 1987.

Purkey said Matze should be held without bond. Defense attorney Jesse Johnson disagreed.

"Mr. Matze is a lifelong resident of Suffolk," Johnson said. "He was employed by the city of Suffolk. He lives in Oak Ridge with his parents, helped provide support for family members. He's not violent, hasn't been charged with anything violent. He intends to stay here."

After hearing arguments from both sides, Circuit Judge Rodham Delk decided that Matze likely isn't a threat to his neighborhood or to himself, and Delk granted Matze a $30,000 bond. He'll be arraigned on the child pornography charges Oct. 8.

The case, Purkey said Friday, could have far-reaching implications. She said images of victims of child abuse in other Hampton Roads cities were found on Matze's computer, as were images of children listed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Most of the children were young boys, she said.

"Some of the boys were under the age of 10," Purkey said in court. "One was a handicapped child."

"He's not only a flight risk but a risk to the children of this community," she said of Matze.

Purkey said it took a year to go through the information on Matze's computer. He was indicted by the grand jury last month.

As conditions of his bond, Matze must not be in possession of or use any computer and must not be in possession of any pornographic material. Matze was ordered to not be in contact with any child younger than 18, and he must not apply for or be in possession of a passport. He must also remain in his home from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Linda McNatt, (757) 222-5561, linda.mcnatt@pilotonline.com