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Teacher charged with sexual abuse of minors and assault

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An Anne Arundel County teacher is facing dozens of charges for sexually abusing minors. According to charging documents obtained by 11 News Investigates, Matthew Schlegel inappropriately touched up to eight students multiple times in his third-grade math class at Severna Park Elementary School. Police arrested Schlegel at his home on Thursday. In total, he faces 36 charges, including sexual abuse of minor violence and second-degree assault. “It is disturbing, the case has been disturbing all along. Anytime you get an allegation like this, it’s disturbing,” Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesman Bob Mosier told 11 News Investigates. Schlegel, 44, of Severna Park, is accused of abuse dating back to August 2022, based on multiple interviews with the victims related to an investigation that began in March, investigators said. According to charging documents, the victims told investigators that Schlegel touched their private parts and other areas on more than one occasion. A letter was sent to parents in March informing them of the teacher’s removal, but provided no further details. Mosier said the district communicated that “I realize it’s frustrating when a process like this plays out and agencies like ours have limited ability to say anything.” “I mean, there’s understandable frustration for families,” Mosier told 11 News Investigates. Mosier said Schlegel was removed from his classroom and reassigned on March 15 as soon as the district learned of the allegations, and a long-term substitute teacher took over the position on March 18. “He was reassigned to a new position where he didn’t work with children, in any place where there were children,” Mosier told 11 News Investigates. Mosier said Schlegel remains employed by the district, but the district is reviewing the charges and Schlegel’s employment status could change. “We are.” “We are looking at these charges now and there are parts of the law and the negotiated agreements that we will review and take appropriate action if we deem it necessary,” Mosier told 11 News Investigates. Schlegel is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning. Severna Park Acting Principal Sharon Hansen sent a letter to parents Thursday that said, “Following is information released today by the Anne Arundel County Police Department regarding the criminal charges against one of our teachers, Matthew Schlegel.” “As interim principal of Severna Park Elementary School, while Principal Kyle Butler is on arranged family leave while he and his wife welcome their newborn son, my goal is to help students access the resources available following this difficult news to ensure continuity of teaching. “It is important that you understand that when our school system received the first allegation in this case, Mr. Schlegel was immediately transferred.” AACPS immediately referred the matter to appropriate law enforcement authorities and has been cooperating with them since. Since his transfer, Mr. Schlegel has no longer worked in a position in which he had contact with students. “As has been the case since the beginning of this case, our school also has resources available to support any student affected by this matter or who needs to discuss their feelings. If your student needs these resources, please ask them to speak up.” “I hate it when this happens to kids in the classroom. “As a teacher, it’s very disturbing,” said Kandy Chase, a grandparent at Severna Park Elementary School and retired teacher. “We’re in the education business because we love the kids and we want to be with them and teach them.” Although an arrest has been made, investigators with the Child Abuse Unit are asking anyone with information to call the Tip Line at 410. 222-4733 or call the Anne Arundel County Police Hotline at 410-222-4700.

SEVERNA PARK, Md. –

An Anne Arundel County teacher is facing dozens of charges for sexually abusing minors.

According to charging documents obtained by 11 News Investigates, Matthew Schlegel inappropriately touched up to eight students multiple times in his third-grade math class at Severna Park Elementary School.

Police arrested Schlegel at his home on Thursday. He faces a total of 36 charges, including sexual abuse, minor assault and second-degree assault.

“It is disturbing, the case was disturbing from the beginning. Anytime an allegation like this is made, it is disturbing,” Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesman Bob Mosier told 11 News Investigates.

Schlegel, 44, of Severna Park, is accused of abuse dating back to August 2022 based on multiple interviews with the victims related to an investigation that began in March, investigators said.

According to charging documents, the victims told investigators that Schlegel touched their private parts and other areas more than once.

A letter was sent to parents in March informing them of the teacher’s dismissal, but did not provide further details.

Mosier said the district communicated as much as possible to ensure a fair process for everyone involved.

“I realize that it is frustrating when a process like this takes place and agencies like ours have limited options to say. I mean, there is understandable frustration for families,” Mosier told 11 News Investigates.

Mosier said Schlegel was removed from his classroom and reassigned on March 15 as soon as the district learned of the allegations, and a long-term substitute teacher took over the position on March 18.

“He was transferred to a place where he wasn’t working with children, to a place where there were children,” Mosier told 11 News Investigates.

Mosier said Schlegel remains employed by the district, but he is reviewing the charges and Schlegel’s employment status could change.

“We are reviewing these allegations now and there are parts of the law and the negotiated agreements that we will review and take appropriate action if we deem it necessary,” Mosier told 11 News Investigates.

Schlegel is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning.

Severna Park Acting Principal Sharon Hansen sent a letter to parents Thursday saying:

“Below is information released today by the Anne Arundel County Police Department regarding the criminal charges against one of our teachers, Matthew Schlegel.

“As interim principal of Severna Park Elementary School, while Principal Kyle Butler is on arranged family leave while he and his wife welcome their newborn son, my goal is to help students access the resources available following this difficult news to ensure continuity of teaching.

“It is important for you to understand, if you have not already done so, that Mr. Schlegel was transferred as soon as our school system received the first allegation in this case. AACPS immediately referred the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities and took action.” Since then, Mr. Schlegel has no longer worked in a position in which he had contact with students since his transfer.

“As has been the case since the beginning of this case, our school also has resources available to support any student affected by this matter or who needs to discuss their feelings. Should your student need these resources, please ask them to speak up to any staff member and we can direct them accordingly. Our school system is prepared to support the needs of the school as needed.

“I hate when I have to see this happen to kids in the classroom, I just hate to see that time happen. It’s very disturbing to be a teacher,” said Kandy Chase, Severna Park Elementary School grandparent and retired teacher. “We get into the education business because we love the kids and we want to be with them and teach them.”

Although an arrest has been made, detectives with the Child Abuse Unit are asking anyone with information to call the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4733 or the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.

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