Back in July, I brought you the story of 22-year-old Matthew Koso, who married a 13-year-old girl he got pregnant. The girl’s mother approved and consented the marriage, which took place across the state line in Kansas, where it is legal for kids under the age of 18 to get married, as long as there is parental consent. However, it is illegal in Nebraska, and charges of first degree sexual assult were filed against Koso by Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning.
The Omaha World Herald brings us an update to this twisted saga - the title stands alone: "Child Bride’s Love Had Eye for the Girls." Sickening, isn’t it?
FALLS CITY, Neb. - Matthew Koso, the 22-year-old local man who married his pregnant 14-year-old girlfriend in May, was involved with at least three other underage girls before her.
Relatives of two girls told The World-Herald of the relationships.
In one case, Koso’s relationship with an 11-year-old girl came to an abrupt halt when her father discovered the two had been going out. Koso was 19 at the time.
"I nipped it in the bud," the father said.
Another girl’s uncle said he intervened when he saw his niece, then 12 or 13, riding in Koso’s van. He told Koso to stay away from the girl.
In the third case, Andrew Timothy, a cousin of the girl whom Koso married, said he once saw the father of a preteen girl pull Koso out of the city pool, punch him and warn him to stay away from his daughter.
A half-dozen other people who know Koso or his bride, including some of her relatives, said Koso’s interest in young teens and preteens was widely known.
"He’s been dating little girls for a long time," said Patty Smith, an aunt of the girl Koso married.
The girl’s mother cited his past behavior when she sought a protection order to keep him away from her daughter.
"He has a history of the same, similar with other young girls. And he needs to be stopped here and now," the mother wrote in her affidavit.
Of course Koso didn’t mention any of this to his attorney. Koso’s mother said that he didn’t go on dates with anyone, especially young girls. C’mon, Mom. I think you are in denial - he impregnated a 13 year old! Okay, maybe she’s right…does statuatory rape count as a date?
I have to share this sad tale - of course none of this is Matthew’s fault - he had ADHD:
Peggy Koso described Matthew, her youngest, as a child who struggled a bit in school. He had been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and wasn’t strong at academics or sports. He had few friends, and those he did have were a couple of years younger.
"He never got along well with kids his age," Peggy Koso said.
Matthew Koso also had a few brushes with the law and, after graduating from high school, a brief stint in the Marine Corps.
He attended Falls City Public High School, graduating with his class in May 2001. His wife will be a freshman at the school this fall.
That’s just revolting…and the article states this as if it was some kind of wedding annoucement "His wife will be a fresman at the school this fall…" How quaint. How romantic…how sick. He’s a pedophile!!
Throughout his life, it seems as though Matthew has had run-ins with the law, has cut himself to get attention and had problems with school because, his attorney says, of "Koso’s limited mental capability." And he’s procreating now? Greeeeaaaat. The last famous words of Koso’s attorney:
"It’s not like we have some rampant criminal-type character out here," Yoesel said.
Um, I would beg to differ…
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Yeah he is a pervert. Once he tires of his young "wife" he's gonna go after another girl. They can't make this guy out to be some sort of stud..he's a freak. GAWD.
I live here in Lincoln, Nebraska, and this was the front page story that greeted us after Mass a few Sundays ago. Since then you would not BELIEVE the Koso apologists that have come out of the woodwork attacking our State Attorney General for pressing charges. It doesn't matter that he broke the law they say...leave them be. They're married...leave 'em alone. Ummmm....yeah. I wonder what they'll say now in light of this new evidence.
Hi Jeff - thanks for stopping by! Here in Omaha, both of these articles were on the front page as well. I get the feeling there's a bit of sympathy for Koso when you read the article, but they never blatently come out to say that, they just try to paint the "poor guy" picture with his past.
Sadly, I would believe there are a number of apologists supporting Koso's "marriage." Unfortunately, I don't think they'll change their position with this new evidence. They will act as though it was made up, since Koso's mother said he'd never been on a date, it isn't his fault, etc. That seems to be how many in society are looking at pedophiles, anyway. Why else would they get out of prison only to harm more children? I think of the Coueys and the Joseph Edward Duncan's of the world who *had* been imprisoned for pediphilia or other such crimes and who were released because they were "rehabilitated." Then they murdered the children they sought to harm. When someone continues to have excuses for these harmful actions versus the application of consequences that should come with a crime, we will always have these issues.
By the way, I enjoyed your site! Thanks again for stopping by!
No charges have been filed against Koso in relation to any of these other so-called abuse allegations. As of this moment, he is charged solely with having consensual sex with the mother of his child. Calling him a "pedophile", therefore, is simply unwarrranted and libelous. Pedophiles, by definition, are not interested in girls who are old enough to bear children.
This is a waste of tax money. If the Attorney General "succeeds", the result is than one independent family will be replaced by three state-dependents--one in prison and two on the dole. This is political posturing at its worst. Nebraska, leave these people alone!
D.J., I think you need to check your "sources." Koso *was* charged with a crime - sexual assult (i.e. statuatory rape). I think the evidence is overwhelming, um, he is the father of the child and she is underage.
Let's get real here. The girl was *13* years old when he was having sex with her. How do you call this consensual? A 13-year-old child is not a consensual adult. He is fully responsible for his actions. Oh, and it isn't the AG's "fault" that this man committed a crime and is charged accordingly. If he goes to jail it is because he committed a crime - not because the AG is "picking" on him. The only reason the child and her child would be on the tax dole is because of the decisions he made and his persuasion of her to go along - this is one perfect example of why these laws are in place - a 14-year-old child can't support herself, let alone a child. If you are going to blame anyone outside of Koso, try blaming the parents for giving their "stamp of approval."
They say that doing the right thing isn't always easy or popular. I applaud the AG for standing up for what is right versus listening to people worried more about the "tax dole" than about the welfare of a child.
Merry, I know that Koso was charged with a crime, I was merely pointing out how Bruning had smeared his reputation by alleging other girls were in the picture, and yet there were no charges brought.
Yes, I most certainly do call the relationship consensual--it clearly was in the normal meaning of the term. The law does not recognize consent as a defense in underage cases, and this is what is known as a "legal fiction." It may be a good legal fiction or a bad one, but a fiction it is.
The parents did not give their stamp of approval until after the pregnancy. At that point, they could've had an abortion (which Bruning is against) or done the sensible and responsible thing, which is exactly what they did.
If Bruning is permitted to break up this family, it will set a horrible precedent for the freedom of all Nebraskans.
That's where we will agree to disagree. The "right" thing would have been to 1) as a parent turn the man in for statuatory rape, 2) not allow them to get married and 3) put the child up for adoption so it won't grow up in a home where pedophilia is permitted and, as it seems, encouraged.
Lastly, I don't give a flip about your interpretation of law. How can sex be consensual when this situation falls under STATUATORY RAPE? Jon Bruning didn't smear this man's reputation. Seems that he may have had a reputation established long before Bruning was involved. It was the Omaha World Herald that reported these other issues in their paper - are they in on it, too? And that is all.
