Former Montco Commissioner Jim Matthews Gets His Record Cleared
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Montgomery County judge has signed off on an expungement order, ending the criminal case against Jim Matthews, the former chairman of the Montgomery County board of commissioners.
The order means that all arrest records, fingerprints, and other paperwork related to the case against Matthews (except grand jury transcripts and exhibits) will be destroyed and the criminal charges will be removed.
Matthews, 64, of Lower Gwynedd, spent a year on probation after agreeing to enter a probationary program for first-time offenders without admitting any guilt.
Defense attorney Jud Aaron says they're pleased with the outcome.
"It means that the slate is wiped clean and Jim Matthews, who gave years of excellent service to Montgomery County, is moving forward in his life," Aaron told KYW Newsradio, "and he's delighted as well."
The misdemeanor false swearing charge against Matthews stemmed from testimony he gave to a grand jury that was investigating allegations of corruption in county government (see previous story). He was also ordered to pay a fine, and donated $12,000 to the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge (see related story).
