Man charged with obstruction in Heath counselor case

NEWARK – An Alexandria man has been charged with obstructing justice after he reportedly tipped off a former Heath guidance counselor who was under investigation.

Michael "Mick" Crawford, 50, was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor last week in Licking County Municipal Court. He is scheduled to appear in court next week.

According to court documents, Crawford "with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of another for crime, did warn the other person of impending discovery or apprehension."

The charge specifically accuses Crawford of sending an email Oct. 10 to Mackenzie Land Matthews, a guidance counselor at Heath High School, to warn her of an investigation into a sexual relationship she had with a former student.

Crawford was previously a volunteer coach within the Northridge High School baseball program. According to board minutes, Crawford was approved as an assistant baseball coach in October. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Northridge Athletic Director John Morgan said Crawford was no longer with the district.

Matthews was convicted in January of sexual battery, a third-degree felony, and sentenced to two years in prison.

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Investigation files related to the Matthews case indicate Crawford's alleged behavior was concerning to Detective Jaimee Coulter, who was in charge of the Matthews case.

According to her written investigation summary and notes, Coulter met with Crawford on Oct. 16 to speak with him about an email he allegedly sent to Matthews' school account. In the email, Crawford reportedly gave Matthews a "heads up" on the allegations being brought against her and asked her to email him from a private email account if she wanted to talk.

During the Oct. 16 meeting, Coulter wrote that Crawford said he sent an email to Matthews. Coulter wrote that Crawford made it clear he did not believe the allegations against Matthews to be true.

Crawford, who identified himself as a high school baseball coach, reportedly told detectives he would have told someone about the allegations if it had been one of his players who was making the accusations because he was required to by law.

"So, despite his own clear understanding that, if true, these allegations could constitute a crime, and that his coaching position requires him to report suspicions of child abuse and neglect, Mr. Crawford apparently felt the best response in this situation would be to go out of his way to seek out the alleged perpetrator and give her a 'heads up' about the situation, clearly due to his negative personal feelings toward the victim's family," Coulter wrote.

Licking County Prosecutor Ken Oswalt said people who are mandatory reporters, such as school employees, coaches or nurses, are required by Ohio law to report any felony they have knowledge of to authorities. A school counselor having sex with a student would be a felony.

"If somebody had actual knowledge of its occurrence, not just suspicion, but knowledge, there would be an obligation," he said.

Not reporting a felony is a fourth-degree misdemeanor, according to Ohio law.

A later review of the email exchange between Matthews and Crawford, provided to detectives by Crawford, shocked Coulter, according to her statement.

"I was flabbergasted by the statements he made to this woman he does not even know, considering he is aware she is alleged to have had sex with a student under her supervision," Coulter wrote.

In the emails, obtained by The Advocate as part of court records in the case, Matthews responded to Crawford's Oct. 10 email to her school account on Oct. 12 by saying she believed he was mistaken. However, on Oct. 11, Matthews responded to Crawford from a Google email account, saying she was "very confused" with what he may have heard but would "appreciate a heads up."

Crawford responded and said he was letting Matthews know so she could "put a plan together if its true" and suggested she deny the allegations.

Matthews responded less than an hour later, saying she was in shock and requesting additional information. Three days later, Matthews met with Heath Superintendent Trevor Thomas and reportedly "feigned shock at the allegation," Coulter wrote.

"These comments were made by a man who readily admits he does not know the suspect in this case," Coulter wrote. "Also, by his own admission he barely knows the alleged victim. ... It is extremely disturbing to know that this man is entrusted to mentor teenage boys."

Crawford's attorney, Jeff Berendt, said he had no comment on the case.