Teacher charged with raping 13-year-old student she called her ‘crystal meth’ shows shocking prison transformation

A teacher accused of plying a 13-year-old student with marijuana, raping him and leaving her husband because she wanted to be with the boy looked almost unrecognizable at a court hearing Tuesday.

Making a brief appearance in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom, Colleen Jo Matarico, 44, was dressed in a blue prison jumpsuit, shackled, and looking worn down from her nearly 17 months behind bars.

Matarico’s only words were “good morning” before her attorney asked for a continuance. Her gray hair and deeply lined face were a far cry from the once-vibrant-looking San Fernando Valley school teacher. 

Matarico — who worked at John Burroughs Middle School — started abusing the boy she called “crystal meth” when he turned 13, while she was still his teacher, prosecutors revealed.

She had been a teacher for 25 years.

It was revealed in Instagram messages that Matarico allegedly confessed to leaving her husband because she loved the teenager, and said that he was “her ‘crystal meth,’” according to prosecutors.

Most of the alleged sex abuse took place between August and November of 2025, per the criminal complaint. She is also accused of giving the boy marijuana.

The mother of two children, Matarico had originally asked through her attorney to be released on house arrest and electronic monitoring but was denied after prosecutors argued she had made clear she would continue trying to contact the boy if released.

A protective order was also issued demanding Matarico have no contact with the child.

Matarico is expected to be back in court on April 1st. If convicted of all charges, Matarico faces over 20 years in prison.

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