Matt DiMuccio. (Whitman Police)
WHITMAN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A teacher at a Whitman elementary school was arraigned in Brockton District Court Tuesday on charges of inappropriate conduct with a minor.
Matthew DiMuccio, 32, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child under the age of 14.
He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held on $10,000 bail. He also is required to wear a GPS ankle monitor, and have no contact with any child under 16.
DiMuccio, a music teacher, was placed on leave from Duval Elementary School when the allegations were first reported in May.
Five students reported a range of accusations against him, ranging from indecent assault to his breath smelling of beer.
Prosecutors did note he has no criminal record.
In court Tuesday morning, DiMuccio stood in an adjacent room separated by glass, as prosecutors rattled off accusations made against him by students.
He's accused of touching three female students inappropriately during a game called "clay modeler," during which students stood still and DiMuccio would move their arms and legs.
DiMuccio's lawyer claims that the teacher performed this game in front of other teachers and school administrators, and that his gender is his only crime.
"If this was a female teacher, none of us would be here today," DiMuccio's attorney told WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama.
DiMuccio's father calls the charges "ridiculous."
Two other students claim DiMuccio made comments to them that they were hated by other teachers. One male student claims DiMuccio was aroused in class.
DiMuccio's due back in court next month.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports