Matthew R. Kiser. Photo by Brian Ferry

A former Warren middle school teacher who took a backpack full of illegal drugs to work was sentenced on Friday to nearly five years in state prison.

Matthew R. Kiser, 44, Warren, was sentenced on a total of four dockets by President Judge Maureen Skerda.

At the time of his plea, Skerda asked Kiser if he admitted to particular actions: Possessing more than 70 grams of marijuana and 2.2 grams of methamphetamine “in your backpack at Beaty Middle School”… “entering Beaty Middle School with a backpack containing methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia throughout the month of April,” and that “police located a methamphetamine pipe in your desk drawer” at school; and, in another docket, “delivered methamphetamine to another person” while in a mental health unit.

In those and other specific examples, Kiser admitted to the actions.

Kiser’s attorney, Henry Borger, said on Friday in front of Skerda that Kiser “stands before you humbled…’

“He has an addiction that dates back to probably his late adolescence if not his very early adulthood,” Borger explained, telling the court that Kiser went to college on a wrestling scholarship, was later injured and exposed to “pain killing-type drugs,” and has been “involved with that ever since.”

He said his client has “been an extremely productive member of society” as a teacher in the school district until he became unable to control the addiction.

“It’s ironic and tragic that actually the addiction overtook him in his career,” Borger said. “There’s no excuse” for Kiser having the drugs in school, he continued, indicating that Kiser “took significant measures to try and ensure those drugs” couldn’t be accessed by students. “That potential exists there… (It is) only by the grace of God that didn’t happen here.”

He said the case “has received a ton of publicity” and that he has “become estranged” from his wife and daughter. He acknowledged his client “would probably never be able to teach in the school setting” but “does aspire to teach online” and “has some plans to do that.

“He by no means has given up here. (He) truly wants to get help…”

First Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown said that Kiser “had the benefit of the trust of parents in the Warren County School District. However, he violated that trust given to him when he brought a backpack into school.”

Kiser “put at risk each and every one of those children,” Brown said, asking that the docket pertaining to the drugs at school have a school zone enhancement applied, which would add six months to the sentence.

Kiser said he was sorry that his daughter was growing up missing her dad and “wants to make it up to her more than anything.”

There was then some discussion about whether Kiser said he pled to something he didn’t admit to doing.

Borger said that he discussed the charges “at length” with his client and advised that entering a “guilty pleas was appropriate.”

“I’m not saying I’m not responsible,” Kiser said, regarding some of the conduct alleged, but did say that a “perfect storm occurred.”

“The court has heard enough to hold you accountable,” Skerda said. “By your own admission, (you) suffer from an addiction.”

She said the sentence she was imposing gives Kiser “ample time” if he is serious about his recovery.

Skerda then handed down the following sentences: On one docket, with the school-zone enhancement applied, Kiser was sentenced to 36-to-72 months incarceration in state prison with credit for five days time served, $5,650 in fines and fees, submission of a DNA sample, mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations, and compliance with recommendations, and priority for drug and alcohol programming in the state system on a count of possession with intent to deliver. He is not boot camp eligible but is recidivism risk reduction incentive eligible and Skerda said she is not opposed to him participating in the state’s intermediate punishment program. A count of corruption of minors at that docket merged for sentencing and he received an additional 12-to-36 months incarceration on a count of endangering the welfare of children and one year of state probation on a count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

On a second docket, he was sentenced to nine-to-18 months incarceration in state prison with credit for 136 days time served, $2,100 in fines and fees, to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and receive priority for drug and alcohol programming in the state prison system and submission of a DNA sample on a count of possession with intent to deliver, and one year state probation on a count of tamper with/fabricate physical evidence.

He was also sentenced to one month-to-one year incarceration and $800 in fines and fees on a count of contraband/non-controlled substance at a third docket, as well as one year state probation on a count of tamper with/fabricate physical evidence.

At the last docket, he was sentenced to a $100 fee and one year of state probation on a count of possession of drug paraphernalia.