New Sexual Assault of a Child Charges Against Marshfield School Board Candidate

Friday, February 13th, 2026 -- 4:00 PM

(Justin Betti, WAOW) A Marshfield School Board candidate faces new charges of sexual assault of a child, adding to his existing domestic and child abuse charges.

According to Justin Betti with WAOW, Mathew Samson, 40, has been charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault for alleged intercourse with a child under 12.

Court records reveal that a 10-year-old victim reported to police in February that Samson raped her twice between May 2022 and November 2023 when she was 7 or 8.

The victim stated she had previously told adults about the assaults, but they did not believe her. She later retracted her statements because she did not want Samson to go to jail, but decided to speak up again after Samson was jailed on other charges.

Samson had his initial appearance in court for the new charges on Thursday, February 12. Bond was set at $500,000 on Wednesday. He is scheduled for his next appearance in Wood County court on March 2, addressing all charges against him.

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