Columbia high school choir director responds to stalking arrest

Saturday, the Hickman High School choir director accused of stalking a woman responded to being called a threat to public safety by the court.

Earlier this month, we reported Matthew Felts was arrested for misdemeanor stalking for reportedly texting and messaging a woman multiple times a day.

Court documents said he has bond conditions including no contact with the woman, not to be on the woman’s property and not to possess firearms.

Saturday, Felts told Abc 17 News the allegations are untrue.

“No it was just because we were in a relationship, it was normal communication,” Felts said when asked if he messaged the woman repeatedly. “I mean I have records of all of it.”

Felts said he’s not sure why he’s being called a threat to public safety.

“I’m not sure what that means,” Felts said. “I’ve never done anything that’s dangerous.”

Felts said he does not believe the accusation of being called a threat has any truth behind it.

“No, and neither do the professionals over at the University of Missouri clinic that I checked myself into by myself, not by myself but of my own doing,” Felts said.

Felts checked himself into the Missouri Psychiatric Center earlier this month, he said. He was discharged six days later with no active problems, according to the medical record he gave Abc 17 News from the University of Missouri Health Care.

Felts also responded to having a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court.

“The thing to not appear in court…the court documents are being mailed to my wife’s address, with my name on them, and then not delivered to me.”

Felts is still employed as the Hickman Choir director, but said he is on leave for separate reasons.

He said he will not be returning to teach at the school or any other public school.