photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mateo Wills, left, leaves the courtroom Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, after pleading guilty to aggravated kidnapping and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. His attorney, Hatem Chahine, is at right.

An attorney representing a convicted sex offender is asking for the man’s bond to be modified so that he can visit with relatives prior to his sentencing date and an expected lengthy prison term.

The man, Mateo Clavel Wills, 22, pleaded guilty in August to one count of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child — charges that stemmed from his employment at Lawrence’s Raintree Montessori School, where he confessed to inappropriately touching preschoolers during nap time three years ago. Wills was 19 when he was arrested.

As part of his bond conditions, he was ordered, while on house arrest, to have no contact with minors or witnesses in the case. His attorney, Hatem Chahine, is now asking Judge Sally Pokorny to partially lift that restriction so that Wills can see his grandmother, Marcia Granger, and two of his siblings ahead of his Oct. 30 sentencing. Granger worked alongside Wills at Raintree as a “directress” and is listed as a witness in the case. Wills’ minor siblings are 10 and 17.

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Oct. 7.

As the Journal-World reported, Wills is facing a sentence of more than 15 years in prison. Chahine and Special Prosecutor Joshua Ney agreed to recommend 15.5 years for the offenses, which would involve a downward durational departure under state sentencing guidelines, though Pokorny told Wills at his plea hearing that she was not bound by that agreement and could sentence him to nearly 19 years.

Court records indicate that Wills has no prior criminal history and has obeyed all court orders. He was granted a furlough to attend the funeral of his father on Aug. 16.