Family of accused cop killer indicted in federal court

The parents and sister of accused cop killer Jesse Mathews were indicted today by a federal grand jury in Chattanooga.

The boyfriend of the sister also was indicted, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Kathleen Mathews, 57, and Ray Vance Mathews, 50, the parents of Jesse Mathews, and his sister Rachel Mathews, 21, were indicted for conspiracy and obstruction of justice, being accessories after the fact, misprision of felonies, and related firearms charges, the release stated.

James Poteete, 26, the boyfriend of Rachel Mathews, was indicted on the same charges.

The defendants have not yet been arraigned on the charges.

The indictment claims that Kathleen, Rachel and Ray Vance Mathews and Poteete obstructed justice by concealing firearms stolen and possessed by Jesse Mathews; acted as accessories after the fact to armed robberies committed by Jesse Mathews in the Colorado Springs, Colo., and attempted to conceal those crimes by harboring Jesse Mathews.

The indictment also says the four tampered with evidence related to crimes committed by Jesse Mathews; that Kathleen and Ray Vance Mathews provided firearms to Jesse Mathews, a known felon; and that Kathleen Mathews, a felon herself on a former manslaughter charge, knowingly possessed firearms and ammunition.