Expungement motion expected for ex-pastor acquitted of child abuse

Everly
Matthew Everly, 26, of Bloomington was found not guilty New Years Eve of breaking his infant daughter’s legs and arm in March 2017. (Everly defense team photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – The attorney for former Twin-Cities pastor Matthew Everly said in the coming days he’ll file a motion to have child abuse allegations erased from Everly’s criminal record.

The anticipated motion for expungement follows a McLean County Judge’s decision Monday finding Everly, 26, not guilty on all 11 charges, including aggravated battery to a child.

Prosecutors believed circumstantial evidence was sufficient enough to convict Everly of breaking his infant daughter’s legs and an elbow, apparently while changing the baby’s diaper.

Judge Casey Costigan said he could only guess how the child suffered her injuries, and he wasn’t convinced it happened during a diaper change.

Costigan said emotion didn’t factor into his verdict, although many of Everly’s supporters, who packed the courtroom, broke into tears after the acquittal.

“An innocent man’s life was torn apart, a newly-married couple with their new baby,” said a woman who attended the trial.

Another of Everly’s supporters acknowledged it will be hard for him to undo the damage done to his reputation. Doubters, she said, should have listened to trial testimony.

“How can you take the doubt out of some people’s minds?”

“Sitting in that courtroom and listening to the whole thing, it’s obvious to me that he’s not guilty,” she said.

“We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that his character was sterling, and this was not something he could have ever done,” said another of Everly’s supporters.

Defense Attorney Scott Kording, who’s scheduled to be sworn-in as an associate judge January 18, said he hopes Everly can return to some form of the ministry.

Everly was a pastor at Eastview Christian Church in Normal before his arrest.

McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp declined comment after the trial.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…