Navy man charged with sexual battery, statutory rape

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
March 12, 2002
Naval air traffic controller David A. Matherly, of 3434 Lick Skillett Road in Toomsuba, was charged Monday with seven counts of sexual battery and one count of statutory rape.
The 36-year-old was described by a spokesman from the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department as "full-time Navy."
The alleged victims are his adopted daughters, ages 13 and 15. Charges were filed last week by Matherly's wife, whose name is being withheld by the sheriff's department at her request. The incidents allegedly occurred with in the past year.
According to investigator Jim Stephens, four charges were filed in regard to each child. Matherly was in custody today at Rush Foundation Hospital, where he was taken Sunday after claiming he had overdosed on Tylenol.
Stephens said Matherly disappeared from his assignment in New Orleans at the same time the charges were filed. He was listed as wanted with the National Crime Information Center maintained by the FBI.
Stephens said he did not expect Matherly to return home but he did sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Stephens said Mrs. Matherly wouldn't let him in the house and called 911. Deputies found the suspect at the Super Stop in Lauderdale, where he said he had taken an overdose of Tylenol.
Chief Deputy Mike Mitchell said Matherly could be released from the hospital sometime today. Bond was set at $80,000.