Federal judge consolidates sentencing for Mathews family

Monday, October 3, 2011

photo Ray Vance and Kathleen Mathews

A federal judge has consolidated the sentencing dates for the family of a man accused of killing a local police sergeant.

All four of the defendants now will be sentenced on the same day.

Today, U.S. District Judge Harry "Sandy" Mattice approved a request by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Neff to consolidating the sentencing dates to Dec. 12.

Kathleen and Ray Mathews were to be sentenced on Dec. 19, Rachel Mathews and James Poteete were to be sentenced on Nov. 14.

Kathleen and Ray are the parents of Jesse Mathews, a man facing the death penalty in state court for the April 2 killing of Chattanooga police Sgt. Tim Chapin during a botched robbery.

Rachel is Jesse's sister, and Poteete is her boyfriend.

Each of the four defendants pleaded guilty in recent months to helping Jesse Mathews after his flight from a Colorado Springs, Colo., halfway house, where he was serving parole for a 2002 armed robbery.

Colorado police say Jesse Mathews robbed at least three locations, then fled the state with the help of his girlfriend Amber Vlasak-Hudson and Rachel.

Federal authorities indicted Vlasak-Hudson on Sept. 15 for her involvement in Jesse Mathew's alleged crimes there.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 11 before Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.

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