Grain Valley mother complained about Matthew Nelson's inappropriate touching five years ago

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. - Claims made by a Prairie Branch Elementary School mother have gotten the attention of the Grain Valley Police Department.

The mother's name is Heather. She asked 41 Action News not to use her last name because she wants to protect her daughter's privacy.

Heather said she's not surprised by the child molestation charges against on of the school's second grade teachers, Matthew Nelson.

The Jackson County prosecutor's office announced Wednesday Nelson faces eight counts of child molestation and sodomy .

Heather said her daughter, who is now 13 years old, was in Nelson's class five years ago. Heather's daughter said she saw Nelson inappropriately touching the boy students.

"Rubbing tummies, giving hugs, rubbing legs, kisses on cheeks," Heather said.

Heather took her daughter's accusation to the school.

"They said they would address it, and they left it at that." Heather said. "I don't think they gave it their full attention."

Heather said she also brought the issue to the school at the beginning of this school year. She said she has another daughter who would have been in Nelson's class, but Heather fought to put her in another teacher's class.

Heather said the current accusations against Nelson could have been avoided.

"The district should have taken more note of what was going on and addressed it immediately," Heather said. "If there was more diligence on their part then we wouldn't be in the position that we are now and there wouldn't be children who've been hurt."

Heather said she's so upset with the system that's she is considering moving out of the district.

The day after 41 Action News aired Heather's story, the Grain Valley Police Department called her for questioning. 

Heather says she went to the police station and sat down with two detectives for a recorded interview.  She says she told police what told 41 Action News the night before.

Grain Valley Assistant Superintendent Brad Welle said the district has no record of Heather's complaint because the district only keeps track of written complaints.  Heather says she made her complaint over the phone to the school's principal.

Welle said the district only has one complaint against Nelson on file.  He said the district's investigation is ongoing and the school continues to cooperate with the Children's Division of Missouri and the Grain Valley Police Department.