Chattanooga: Mathews' mother, sister make first court appearance

Monday, May 2, 2011

The sister and mother of accused cop killer Jesse Mathews made their first appearances today in court.

Rachel, the sister of Jesse Mathews, and Kathleen, his mother, pleaded not guilty today in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga. Kathleen Mathews was in a wheelchair.

They are charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice, being accessories after the fact, misprision of felonies, and related firearms charges, the release stated.

The misprision charge refers to the accusation that they knew about felonies that had been committed but didn't report them when questioned by authorities.

Ray Vance Mathews, Jesse Mathews' father, and James Poteete, Rachel Mathews' boyfriend, face the same charges.

Kathleen Mathews, a felon herself on a former manslaughter charge, additionally is charged with knowingly possessed firearms and ammunition, which is illegal for a felon.

While in court today, Rachel Mathews, who was extradited from Asheville, N.C., was appointed an attorney, Aubrey Harper.

The Mathews family are all in jail, but Poteete is out on a $30,000 bond.

The trial is set to begin July 5.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.