Mathewson guilty of criminal endangerment
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A Polson man accused of rape and kidnapping has plea-bargained for lesser offenses.
Robert Mathewson, 32, changed his plea to no contest for two amended offenses of criminal endangerment, both felonies. Per the plea agreement, Mathewson was released and ordered to not make contact with victims. Court documents noted that since the original charges were filed, another victim came forward.
On Oct. 16, 2014, a jury found Mathewson guilty of aggravated assault, but the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict for two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and a count of kidnapping. A second jury trial was set for Feb. 9 before Mathewson changed his plea Jan. 15 in district court. The court found him guilty and sentencing is set for Feb. 19.
According to court documents, on June 18, 2014, a woman told authorities that she fell asleep in Mathewson’s trailer and awoke as he was touching her. She told him to stop, but he allegedly hit her in the face and allegedly brutally raped her more than once over the course of six hours while refusing to allow her to leave. She said she eventually escaped and went to a friend’s house where she waited for transportation to a hospital.
