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A Collinsville Illinois man identified as a licensed mental health counselor with offices in Swansea and Maryville was charged with multiple counts relating to grooming and sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old child.
Matthew S. Cuppett, 33, of Collinsville, was charged May 5 with grooming, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, all Class 4 felonies; and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, both Class A misdemeanors.
The Collinsville Police Department presented the case. Cuppett is listed as a “clinical counselor in mental health” with the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services, with offices in Swansea and Maryville. Officials with the agency declined to comment.
According to court documents, between July 19, 2024, and Feb. 16, 2025, Cuppett attempted to “seduce, solicit or entice” a now-13-year-old child to engage in “unlawful sexual conduct” and Cuppett was ordered remanded to jail.
According to a petition to deny pre-trial release filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, in March, the Collinsville Police Department was made aware of an investigation by the FBI and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
In February, the victim disclosed to family members that the suspect had been sexually inappropriate during a sleepover. The victim was interviewed by an FBI forensic interviewer in early April that the incidents occurred both before and after the victim turned 13.
In addition, the suspect had photographed the victim in his underwear and held the victim while he ***********.
The victim’s parents conducted two telephone calls with the suspect, in which he admitted to the actions and “admitted being attracted to children.”
On May 2, the Collinsville Police Department and the FBI executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home, where the suspect “immediately admitted to knowing why the police were there.”
“The defendant also admitted to being attracted to children, including children that he counsels through his employment,” the court document stated.
A search warrant was also executed on the suspect’s cell phone, and police found “numerous photos of young boys without shirts and in their underwear.”
Officials with the Collinsville Police Department said the case is still under investigation.
Source: The Telegraph, Alton, Illinois
Matthew S. Cuppett, 33, of Collinsville, was charged May 5 with grooming, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, all Class 4 felonies; and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, both Class A misdemeanors.
The Collinsville Police Department presented the case. Cuppett is listed as a “clinical counselor in mental health” with the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services, with offices in Swansea and Maryville. Officials with the agency declined to comment.
According to court documents, between July 19, 2024, and Feb. 16, 2025, Cuppett attempted to “seduce, solicit or entice” a now-13-year-old child to engage in “unlawful sexual conduct” and Cuppett was ordered remanded to jail.
According to a petition to deny pre-trial release filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, in March, the Collinsville Police Department was made aware of an investigation by the FBI and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
In February, the victim disclosed to family members that the suspect had been sexually inappropriate during a sleepover. The victim was interviewed by an FBI forensic interviewer in early April that the incidents occurred both before and after the victim turned 13.
In addition, the suspect had photographed the victim in his underwear and held the victim while he ***********.
The victim’s parents conducted two telephone calls with the suspect, in which he admitted to the actions and “admitted being attracted to children.”
On May 2, the Collinsville Police Department and the FBI executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home, where the suspect “immediately admitted to knowing why the police were there.”
“The defendant also admitted to being attracted to children, including children that he counsels through his employment,” the court document stated.
A search warrant was also executed on the suspect’s cell phone, and police found “numerous photos of young boys without shirts and in their underwear.”
Officials with the Collinsville Police Department said the case is still under investigation.
Source: The Telegraph, Alton, Illinois