A person is shown in a neutral portrait-style image against a plain gray background, wearing a dark jacket over a light shirt and looking directly at the camera.
The Ukiah Police Department arrested Matthew P. LaFever, 37, of Mendocino County, Calif., (shown) on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. LaFever is suspected of knowingly annoying and or molesting a minor. (Ukiah Police Department via Bay City News)

UKIAH, CA., 1/5/26 — A 37-year-old Ukiah High School journalism teacher arrested in November for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old girl made an appearance in court Monday but has not yet been charged in the case. 

Matt LaFever, a Hopland resident who was also the publisher of the now-shuttered MendoFever news website, was arrested Nov. 3 on suspicion of knowingly annoying or molesting a minor and was placed on leave from the high school after the Ukiah Unified School District first learned of the allegations in October. 

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Sydney Fishman is a UC Berkeley California Local News Fellow and lives full time in Ukiah. Reach her at sydney@mendovoice.com or through her Signal username @sydannfish.67.