A former assistant pastor at a large Carlsbad church got a 15-year prison sentence Tuesday for molesting a 13-year-old relative over the span of about a year.

Before hearing his sentence, Matthew Tague, 44, of San Marcos, once an assistant pastor at North Coast Calvary Chapel, apologized for his behavior. Reading a statement, said he was ashamed and remorseful.

“He said that he brought shame on his church and family and damage to the girl,” recounted his attorney, Richard Muir. “He said he will spend the rest of his life trying to rehabilitate from this.”

Tague was fired from North Coast Calvary Chapel last year when church officials learned of the allegations. Tague had ministries to families and to church members ages 30 to 40.


Vista Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein took time during the sentencing to chastise Tague for his actions, calling them “unconscionable” and saying they caused “irreparable harm” to the girl, Deputy District Attorney Patricia Lavermicocca said.

Tague’s wife, Kelli Tague, who is the girl’s legal guardian, asked the judge to allow her husband and the girl to communicate with each other after he goes to prison.

The judge issued an order to allow it, over the prosecutor’s objection.

The child was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, which made her more vulnerable to abuse and less likely to tell anyone, Lavermicocca said. She said the girl has an emotional maturity about three years younger than her age.


Tague pleaded guilty in February to two of the 14 counts against him, for lewd acts on a child under age 14. Some acts occurred in 2016 and some in 2017, when the girl was 12 and 13, Lavermicocca said.

Tague called the Sheriff’s Department last year to report his crime after his wife caught him molesting the girl. He talked to investigators and was arrested the next day. He has remained in jail, with no bail, since May 31.

He will get credit for serving about a year behind bars already, and with state sentencing laws that allow more time off for non-violent crimes, could expect to serve 11 years of his 15-year sentence, Muir said.

Authorities said the child molestation was not related to Tague’s church work and never took place there.



pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard