Status Of Teacher Acquitted Of Abuse Still Unclear: Report

SEVERNA PARK, MD — The status of an elementary teacher in Anne Arundel County who was found not guilty of sexually abusing his students and saw assault charges against him dropped remains unclear, multiple reports said.

Matthew Schlegel, 45, taught third-grade math at Severna Park Elementary School, where he was accused of inappropriately touching eight of his female students.

The Baltimore Banner said three girls didn't testify at trial because it would have been detrimental to their mental health, and the jury on June 17 found Schlegel not guilty of abusing the other five girls.
The Banner reported the jury found Schlegel not guilty of 18 of the 21 charges against him: sexual abuse of a minor and third- and fourth-degree sex offense.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools has not yet decided whether Schlegel will return to the classroom or remain in his position without student contact.

Related: Assault Charges Dropped For Severna Park Elementary Teacher: Reports

After the not guilty verdict and subsequent dismissal of the remaining charges freed Schlegel from jail, the school district lifted Schlegel’s unpaid suspension and restored his full employment.

WBFF on Monday asked the school district about the embattled teacher's status, and school officials said an internal investigation into the abuse allegations continues. A district statement said:

At this time, Mr. Schlegel is fully employed by Anne Arundel County Public Schools. As a 10-month employee, he does not work in the summer and is, therefore, not currently assigned to a work location. As we have stated previously, our school district will now finalize its review of the matter consistent with our internal processes and will make further decisions regarding Mr. Schlegel’s status and employment assignment in accordance with our obligations under state law.

Schlegel still faces a lawsuit from an anonymous parent. The mother alleged that Schlegel molested her daughter behind his desk during classroom instruction.

The lawsuit filed on May 30 seeks nearly $1 million in damages from Schlegel, Severna Park Elementary Principal Kyle Butler and Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell.

“To even contemplate putting this teacher back in a classroom is adding insult to injury,” Thiru Vignarajah, an attorney representing the parents of the involved students, told WBFF.

Schlegel's attorney said, "The mother of one of these children is seeking to profit from these false allegations."

"We have suspected for more than a year — and confirmed with the evidence presented in the criminal case — that every single family involved in this case consulted and/or retained civil attorneys, some within days of the initial allegations. What is curious, however, is that this particular family declined to participate in the criminal case, citing the 'best interest' of the child, and yet—unbeknownst to us — this lawsuit was docketed exactly one week after our vigorous cross-examination, concerning this very topic, was publicized," Seidel told Patch in an email, pointing to three of the girls who did not testify at Schlegel's trial.

Schlegel has worked for AACPS since 2008. He worked at Severna Park Elementary from 2016 to 2024. AACPS transferred him to a position without student contact when the investigation began. The school system suspended him without pay once he was charged with a felony.

Related:

• Severna Park Teacher Sued In Sex Abuse Case For $1M
• Severna Park Teacher Found Not Guilty Of Sex Abuse, Schools Make Employment Decision
• Teacher Accused Of Sex Abuse Indicted On 55 Charges In Anne Arundel: Report
• Teacher Denied Bond In Severna Park Elementary Sex Abuse Case: Courts
• Severna Park Elementary Teacher Abused 8 Students: Charging Docs
• Teacher Removed From School, Misconduct Investigated In AACPS: Reports

Get The Latest Local News (For Free!) With One Quick Tap