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Teacher accused of sexual abuse must remain in custody

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Judge continues to sentence teacher accused of sexual abuse of minors to prison

Matthew Schlegel charged with 36 counts of sexual abuse and other crimes

IN THE END, THE JUDGE SAID SHE HAD TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE EIGHT GIRLS WHO TOLD AUTHORITIES THEIR SEVERNA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATH TEACHER HAD IMPROPERLY TOUCHED THEM IN HIS CLASSROOM DURING SCHOOL TIME, AND THEN SHE ORDERED MATTHEW SCOTT BANKS SCHLEGEL TO BE HOLDEN WITHOUT BOND IN THE JENNIFER ROAD DETENTION CENTER. AND THERE THE 44-YEAR-OLD APPEARED VIA VIDEO CONNECTION FOR TODAY’S HEARING, WHERE, ACCORDING TO HIS DEFENSE, HE WAS FOUND INSUFFICIENT CONDUCT ON 36 CRIMINAL CHARGES, INCLUDING BODILY INJURY AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR. THE COURTROOM WAS FULL OF PARENTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE GIRLS TODAY. MANY CRIED AND HUGGED EACH OTHER AFTER HEARD THE JUDGE’S DECISION. THE STATE PRESENTED A GIRL WHO TOLD THE POLITICIANS: “I STILL WANT MR. SCHLEGEL TO BE MY TEACHER. I JUST WANT HIM TO STOP TOUCHING ME.” THE DEFENSE MOTIVATED TODAY’S CIVIL TRIAL, ARGUING THAT THE DISTRICT JUDGE HAD VOTED AT THE BAIL REVIEW WHEN HE GRANTED IT TO CONSIDER THE LEAST BURDENING OPTION FOR RELEASE, WHICH WAS SEND HIM HOME TO HIS WIFE AND TWO YOUNG SONS AT THEIR HOME IN SEVERNA PARK. THEY EVEN SAID HOUSE ARREST AND OFFERED HIS PARENTS’ HOUSE IN ROCKVILLE AS AN ALTERNATIVE. THE DEFENSE ARGUED HE HAD NO RESERVATIONS. HE DID NOT LEAVE WHEN A CIVIL LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST HIM IN THE CASE OR WHEN SOMEONE THROWN A SMOKE ON HIS LAWN. THEY TOLD THE JUDGE HIS WIFE IS AN ASSEMBLY OF THE PRINCIPALITY IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. HIS PARENTS ARE RESPECTABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE TRIED TO GET THEIR REACTION TODAY ON THE WAY OUT OF COURT THAT THEY WERE LATE FOR THIS HEARING TODAY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE OUTCOME FOR YOUR CLIENT? NO, THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME, SIR, SIR, ANY REACTION TO THE JUDGE’S DECISION? NO, THANK YOU. WHAT ABOUT YOU, MA’AM? EXCUSE ME, MA’AM, IS THERE ANY REACTION TO TODAY’S VERDICT ON YOUR SON? THE DEFENSE SUBMITTED 17 CHARACTER LETTERS BEFORE TODAY’S HEARING, INCLUDING FROM SCHLEGEL’S IN-LAW, HIS COLLEGE BUSINESS MATES AND A FORMER STUDENT. SO MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP THAT THE HEARING ACTUALLY HAD TO BE MOVED TO THE LARGEST COURTROOM. HERE IT HAS 200 PEOPLE AND WAS FILLED TO THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY. SCHLEGEL’S NEXT APPOINTMENT IN THIS MATTER IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 12. REPORT FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. I’

Judge continues to sentence teacher accused of sexual abuse of minors to prison

Matthew Schlegel charged with 36 counts of sexual abuse and other crimes

A Severna Park Elementary School teacher will remain in jail until his trial, an Anne Arundel County judge ruled Tuesday afternoon. Matthew Scott Banks Schlegel was charged May 16 with 36 counts of sexual abuse and other offenses. At his bail review hearing the next day, a judge ordered Schlegel held without bail for safety reasons. The defense requested a civil hearing Tuesday, arguing the district judge erred in the bail review when he did not consider the “least burdensome option” of sending Schlegel home to his wife and young sons in Severna Park or even placing him under house arrest and offering him his parents’ home in Rockville as an alternative. The defense said Schlegel has no criminal record and did not flee when a civil suit was filed against him in the case or when someone threw an incendiary device on his front yard. On Tuesday, the judge said she also had to consider the safety and mental health of the eight girls who told authorities their math teacher inappropriately touched them in his classroom during class over a two-year period. The state said one girl told investigators, “I still want Mr. Schlegel to be my teacher. I just want him to stop touching me.” The judge ordered Schlegel held without bail at the Jennifer Road Detention Center, where he appeared via video at Tuesday’s hearing. His defense team argued Schlegel was being wrongfully held. The courtroom was packed with parents, friends and family members of the girls, many of whom cried and hugged each other after hearing the judge’s decision.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —

A Severna Park Elementary School teacher will remain in jail pending trial, an Anne Arundel County judge ruled Tuesday afternoon.

Matthew Scott Banks Schlegel was charged with 36 counts of sexual abuse and other charges on May 16. At his bail review hearing the next day, a judge ordered Schlegel held without bail out of concern for the safety of the community.

The defense requested a civil hearing on Tuesday, arguing that the district judge erred in reviewing bail by failing to consider “the least burdensome option,” which would have been to send Schlegel home to his wife and young sons in Severna Park or even to place him under house arrest and offer him his parents’ home in Rockville as an alternative.

The defense said Schlegel had no criminal record and did not flee when a civil suit was filed against him in the case or when someone threw an incendiary device on his front yard.

On Tuesday, the judge said she must also consider the safety and mental health of the eight girls who told authorities that their math teacher had inappropriately touched them in his classroom over a two-year period while they were at school.

The state said one girl told investigators, “I still want Mr. Schlegel to be my teacher. I just want him to stop touching me.”

The judge ordered Schlegel held without bail at the Jennifer Road Detention Center, where he appeared via video at Tuesday’s hearing. His defense team argued Schlegel was being wrongfully held.

The courtroom was filled with the girls’ parents, friends and family members, many of whom cried and hugged each other after hearing the judge’s decision.

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