On Wednesday, Oct. 19, jurors in the Matthew Barton trial said they couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of the former Manitou Springs High School teacher and soccer coach.
Barton, 53, was arrested in January 2022 for having sexual relations with a 14-year-old sophomore student that began in 2007, according to court records. The relationship turned sexual when the student turned 15 years old.
Prosecutors delivered closing arguments to the jury on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The jury was dismissed at 5 p.m. that day without reaching a verdict.
If he is found guilty, Barton would face a mandatory 8 to 24 years in prison to a potential life sentence.