Several families in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, are pushing back against the possible return of a former third-grade teacher at Severna Park Elementary School, who was acquitted in June on 18 counts of sex offenses involving eight of his students. Despite his acquittal, parents say the allegations alone should be enough to keep him from teaching again, WJZ-TV (CBS affiliate) reports.
Matthew Schlegel was suspended without pay following allegations that he sexually abused the students between 2022 and 2024. A lengthy investigation and a five-week trial followed. Three charges against him were dismissed, and a jury ultimately found him not guilty on the remaining 18 counts. His attorneys maintain that the verdict demonstrates the accusations were not supported by credible evidence.
“After investigations by multiple state agencies and a full public trial, he was acquitted of all charges,” his legal team said in a statement. “That verdict is not just a legal technicality; it is a formal recognition that the allegations against him are not supported by credible evidence.”
However, for many parents, the trial’s outcome has not alleviated their concerns. Attorney Thiru Vignarajah, who represents some of the families, said they feel strongly that allowing Schlegel to return to teaching would be an unacceptable risk.
“Even one allegation is enough,” Vignarajah said. “One violation of a child’s trust, of a family’s trust, of a community’s trust, is enough for termination, and certainly enough to preclude that person from returning to a teaching role.”
Families of alleged victims, joined by advocates for child sex abuse prevention, have since launched a public petition urging the school district to make Schlegel’s removal permanent. The petition argues that teaching is not a guaranteed right but “a responsibility and a privilege,” and that student safety must take precedence over reinstating a teacher whose name has been linked to multiple allegations, regardless of the trial’s outcome.
The district has said it is legally obligated to review Schlegel’s employment status following his acquittal and has not yet finalized its decision. Meanwhile, the petition campaign has gathered momentum on social media, amplifying the voices of parents who say their children and all students deserve to feel safe at school.
Schlegel’s attorneys counter that their client has endured severe personal and professional harm from what they describe as “falsehoods and harassment,” urging the community to respect the judicial process and allow him to rebuild his life and career.