Former SC city employee charged with assaulting victim on volleyball team he coached

Authorities arrested on Friday a former city of Barnwell employee accused of touching at least one juvenile girl who played on a volleyball team he coached.

Matthew Napolitan Washington has been charged with three counts of first degree assault and battery, according to warrants released by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Three warrants describe how Washington, 33, identified as the girls’ coach, touched his victim or victims over a period of two years.

According to one warrant, in 2022, from July to December, one girl accuses Washington of touching her, including rubbing her breast under her clothes.

Two additional warrants also describe this year from July to October, that Washington allegedly rubbed the breasts, genitals, stomach area and buttocks of at least one girl while she attended volleyball practice at his house.

The information contained in the warrants was obtained following a forensic interview at a child advocacy center, according to SLED.

A LinkedIn page under the name Matthew Washington lists his occupation as parks and recreation supervisor for the city of Barnwell.

The case will be prosecuted by the 2nd Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

This story was originally published November 18, 2023 at 10:31 AM.

Ted Clifford

The State

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Ted Clifford is the statewide accountability reporter at The State Newspaper. Formerly the crime and courts reporter, he has covered the Murdaugh saga, state and federal court, as well as criminal justice and public safety in the Midlands and across South Carolina. He is the recipient of the 2023 award for best beat reporting by the South Carolina Press Association.