Former Eastmont custodian pleads guilty to rape of student
A former Sterling Junior High custodian accused of raping and molesting a student pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of third-degree rape.
A 15-year-old boy in July 2023 told East Wenatchee Police detectives he was raped by Matthew Ray Vanhousen on at least two occasions, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Douglas County Superior Court two years ago.
In his guilty plea, Vanhousen admitted to raping the boy on Feb. 1, 2022. The boy also told police that he was raped in the school's custodian closet and again at Vanhousen's home in East Wenatchee, according to the affidavit.
Vanhousen had originally been arrested in August 2023 but was later released because the Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney's Office declined to file charges at the time due to "elements of this investigation that need to be completed."
At the time, Gordon Edgar was the elected prosecuting attorney. He retired in June 2025 and was replaced by Sean Lewis.
Lewis filed charges in September 2025 against Vanhousen for two counts of third-degree child rape and two counts of third-degree child molestation.
Lewis told the Wenatchee World in an email in September that his office had "evaluated the details the case and believe that it can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt."
At a guilty plea hearing on Tuesday, the prosecutor "indicated that the alleged victim did not want to go to trial," according to court minutes.
As part of the plea deal, the prosecutor's office will recommend a sentence of one year in jail, 36 months of community custody, 10 years sex offender registration and a 5-year sexual assault protection order.
As a part of his conditions of release, Vanhousen would be ordered have no contact with minors and could not work with developmentally disabled adults or children and could not go within 100 feet of schools or places where children congregate.
Vanhousen's sentencing is scheduled for March 16.
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