Four more victims in child molester case

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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A Missouri elementary school teacher has been accused of sexual abuse by four more victims, and now faces eight felony charges, police say.

Matthew H. Nelson, 33, taught second and third grade for 10 years at Prairie Branch Elementary School in Grain Valley before being accused of sexual abuse last month. He had been charged for four incidents dating back to Aug. 1, 2010; however, new accusations made Wednesday predate that time, stemming from alleged incidents in 2009. Nelson pleaded not guilty to the original charges Jan. 25.

Nelson faces five felony counts of first-degree child molestation for allegedly touching children inappropriately through clothing, and three felony counts of first-degree statutory sodomy for skin-to-skin contact with children, The Kansas City (Mo.) Star reported Thursday.

Court documents say the victims were all boys ages 7 to 9. Allegations of inappropriate touching involving a girl are also on record, but no charges have yet been filed.