Primary school teacher faces 55 charges of sexual abuse of children: “He is an experienced groomer”

The teacher was arrested last month and is being held without bail pending his trial

An elementary school teacher accused of sexually abusing his students was recently indicted on dozens of counts by a federal grand jury in Maryland.

Matthew Schlegel, 44, who worked as an elementary school teacher in Severna Park, Maryland, is accused of 55 counts of sexual abuse of at least eight children he taught, according to documents obtained by CBS News, WBFF-TV and the Capital Gazette.

According to media reports, Schlegel was arrested at his home last month and charged with 36 counts, including seven counts of child sexual abuse and 14 counts of fourth-degree sexual offenses.

According to indictment documents filed by Capital GazetteIn March 2024, police launched an investigation into alleged sexual abuse involving Schlegel and one of his students at Severna Park Elementary School.

At least seven other students subsequently came forward with their own allegations of abuse, which allegedly took place between August 2022 and March 2024, often during school hours, authorities claim. Schlegel was expelled from the classroom on March 15 as a result of the investigation.

The Anne Arundel District Attorney’s Office and Anne Arundel Public Schools did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

During a court hearing on May 28, a judge decided to deny Schlegel bail before his trial, saying the “statement of facts, if true, was abhorrent,” according to WBFF-TV.

Peter O’Neill, the former teacher’s attorney, argued in court that Schlegel should be released on bail because he is not a flight risk due to his connections in the city. More than 30 people – including Schlegel’s wife and family members, friends and former students – attended Schlegel’s court hearing on his behalf, according to WBFF-TV and Capital Advertiser.

However, according to the media, the prosecutor described the suspect as “cunning” and “skilled at manipulating children.”

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A civil lawsuit filed by the families of the alleged victims against Schlegel and the county school system, Anne Arundel Public Schools, has also been filed, O’Neill told the Capital Gazette.

According to CBS News, Schlegel has been a teacher in Anne Arundel County Public Schools since 2008 and began teaching at Severna Park Elementary School in 2016.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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