Ark Valley News - Valley Rocks organizer arrested

Valley Rocks organizer arrested
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: August 15, 2018

A former para-educator at Valley Center Middle School who started a Valley Center Rocks campaign last year has been arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a child.

Matthew McCreary of Valley Center was arrested at his apartment in the 100 block of South Colby Aug. 8. McCreary was booked into jail on a Sedgwick County warrant for two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

According to court documents, McCreary is accused of possessing pictures or videos of a child younger than 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

McCreary had his first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court Aug. 9 and was released on $75,000 bond.

His next appearance is scheduled for Aug. 23.

Valley Center police said while arresting McCreary, an officer smelled marijuana in his apartment, and he said he saw a marijuana grinder and a marijuana pipe. McCreary was booked into jail on possession charges.

McCreary worked for the Sedgwick County Special Education Cooperative from August 2015 through May 2017.

McCreary and his daughter started the Valley Center Rocks effort in early 2017. The project invited residents to paint rocks with encouraging messages and "hide" them where people can find them and perhaps pay the kindness forward.

For example, the first rock the McCrearys hid was at the Valley Center Public Safety Building. It was painted with the letters "VCPD" and had "Back the Blue" on it.

"It feels good knowing that you made somebody smile," McCreary told The News last year.

They also hid rocks for the fire department and local businesses.

Attempts to reach McCreary for comment were unsuccessful.