Maryland elementary school teacher denied bail after sexually assaulting multiple students

BALTIMORE – Matthew Schlegel, a former Anne Arundel County elementary school teacher accused of sexually abusing several female students, was denied bail ahead of his trial, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Schlegel faces 36 charges ranging from second-degree assault to sexual abuse of a minor.

Police say the math teacher at Severna Park Elementary School allegedly sexually abused numerous students at the school between August 2022 and March 2024.

Police said that during their investigation, which began in March, they conducted at least eight forensic interviews with students who said they were inappropriately touched by their third-grade teacher, Schlegel, during class.

The school district removed Schlegel from the classroom on March 15 and relegated him to a seat where he had no contact with students, the district said.

According to a school district spokesperson, Schlegel has been working in the public school system since 2008 and has been a teacher at Severna Park Elementary School since 2016.