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CBS News
01-07-2025
- CBS News
Judge to clarify status of undecided charges for Maryland teacher acquitted of sex abuse
Maryland teacher Matthew Schlegel was acquitted of sex abuse charges in a partial verdict. On Tuesday, he will appear in court as a judge is expected to clarify the status of the three charges that the jury could not agree on. Schlegel was accused of sexually abusing eight of his students between 2022 and 2024 while he worked as a third-grade math teacher at Severna Park Elementary School in Anne Arundel County. A jury found him not guilty of 18 counts of sex offenses in a partial verdict, but they remained deadlocked on three charges. Jury deadlocked on three charges The jury in Schlegel's five-week-long trial was unable to agree on three second-degree assault charges. They deliberated over the 21 charges for three days, initially telling the judge they were unable to agree on seven. Judge Pamela Alban told the jury to keep trying to find common ground, leading them to agree on one more charge. The jury told the judge they doubted they would agree on the remaining three charges, leaving Schlegel with a partial not guilty verdict. Return to work after review Schlegel was ordered to be released from custody after he was acquitted under the condition that he could not have contact with the alleged victims or their families. He also can't be unsupervised around minors. His attorneys told the media that Schlegel suffered and could be in shock for some time. Anne Arundel County Public Schools said Schlegel will return to paid status after the district finalizes its review of his job status and employment assignment. Parents protest partial verdict Parents of the alleged victims and members of the community expressed disappointment and outrage after the verdict. Some protested outside the courthouse while others planted nearly 2,000 pink signs around the county in support of the 10-year-old girls who testified against their teacher. "This outcome yesterday. It's a complete and total failure, and now our focus is on, how do we keep these girls safe? How do we keep our school system safe?" said Katie Juhasz, a friend of an alleged victim's family. The parents of the alleged victims held a press conference led by Attorney Thiru Vignarajah. He represented the families in claiming that Schlegel was wrongly acquitted. "When a number of the families reached out to me earlier this week, their frustration, their devastation, and their heartbreak were not abstract. It was rooted in a feeling of betrayal by the very systems they had come to Severna Park to trust," Vignarajah said. Vignarajah said the families will continue to fight the verdict in any way they can.
CBS News
18-06-2025
- CBS News
Protesters oppose not guilty verdict for Maryland teacher accused of sexual abuse
Protesters rallied outside of an Anne Arundel County courthouse Wednesday to oppose the not guilty verdict for a Maryland teacher who was accused of sexually abusing students. Matthew Schlegel, a suspended teacher from Severna Park Elementary School, faced 18 counts of sexual abuse and sex offenses, though a jury was unable to agree on three of the charges. Schlegel is scheduled to appear for a bail review hearing Wednesday afternoon. His attorneys said he will likely be released from custody during the hearing. Ahead of the hearing, protesters gathered outside to advocate for child sex abuse survivors. Some held signs that read, "We believe them." Another read, "You failed our girls." Parents react to partial verdict The partial verdict came after a five-week trial, during which five young girls testified that Schlegel touched them inappropriately during classes. Schlegel was removed from the school and arrested after the alleged abuse between 2022 and 2024. After learning the verdict on Tuesday, the parents of some of the girls who testified expressed their disappointment. "After the last one to two years of mental health struggles and picking my daughter back up and then putting her through hell, to sit there and face the man that (allegedly) abused her, I see her as the strongest little girl I've ever met," one mother said. One of the parents testified that she found a note on her daughter's iPad, suggesting that Schlegel had been removed from the school due to inappropriate touching. Schlegel denied the allegations against him when he testified during his trial, the Baltimore Banner reported.
CBS News
17-06-2025
- CBS News
former Maryland teacher found not guilty of sexual abuse in partial verdict
A jury has agreed to a partial verdict in the trial for a former Maryland teacher who was accused of sexually abusing students between 2022 and 2024. Matthew Schlegel, 45, worked as a third-grade teacher at Severna Park Elementary School in Anne Arundel County. In 2024, he was charged with abusing eight students during class time. Mistrial declared for 3 charges On Tuesday, the jury agreed on a partial verdict, coming to a consensus on 18 of the charges against Schlegel. However, a mistrial will be declared as they were unable to agree on three of the charges. Jury deliberations in Schlegel's trial lasted three days. On Monday evening, the jury told the judge they were deadlocked on four of the 21 charges. Judge Pamela Alban used the Allen charge and asked members to keep trying to find common ground. By Tuesday afternoon, they informed Judge Alban that they had agreed on one more charge, but doubted they would be able to come to a consensus on the rest. Matthew Schlegel's former students testify Schlegel's five-week-long trial began on May 19. He faced 21 charges, including sexual abuse of a minor and assault. During the trial, some of Schlegel's alleged victims testified, including a 10-year-old girl who claimed the teacher touched her inappropriately on several occasions. The girl told the jury that after Schlegel was removed from the school, she spoke to another alleged victim who suggested the inappropriate touching may have been the reason he left. A mother of the alleged victim said she found the note on her daughter's iPad. The defense team emphasized that the girls were interested in "solving the mystery," and couldn't tell their parents they were joking. However, one of the girls told the courtroom she was afraid to report the incident because she was scared of getting in trouble. Schlegel also took the stand in his trial, denying the allegations against him. His wife was also called as a witness.
CBS News
16-06-2025
- CBS News
Jury deliberations stretch into 3rd day in trial for former Maryland teacher accused of sexual abuse
Jury deliberations stretch into 3rd day in trial for former Maryland teacher accused of sexual abuse Jury deliberations stretch into 3rd day in trial for former Maryland teacher accused of sexual abuse Jury deliberations stretch into 3rd day in trial for former Maryland teacher accused of sexual abuse Jury deliberations will stretch into a third day in the trial for a former Maryland teacher accused of sexually abusing students. The jury struggled to come to a consensus Monday and remained deadlocked on 4 of the 21 charges against 45-year-old Matthew Schlegel. Schlegel, a former third-grade teacher at Severna Park Elementary School in Anne Arundel County, was accused of sexually abusing eight students between August 2022 and March 2024. Jury deadlocked on 4 of 21 charges Around 3 p.m. Monday, Judge Pamela Alban received a note from the jury saying they're still deadlocked on seven of the 21 charges against Schlegel. Judge Alban used an Allen charge, instructing members of the jury to keep trying to find common ground. After that, the jury came back and said they're still deadlocked on four of the 21 charges. Jury deliberations began on Friday, June 13. On Monday, the jury was dismissed around 5 p.m. Deliberations will continue on Tuesday morning around 9 a.m. Former teacher faces abuse trial During the month-long trial, the jury heard from five female students who claimed Schlegel would touch them inappropriately. The young students testified that the abuse would take place during class time. One student's mother told the jury that her daughter became fearful and withdrawn during that time. Schlegel's attorneys, Patrick Seidel and Peter O'Neill, maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Schlegel denied all allegations against him when he took the stand on June 12. Number of charges leads to lengthy trial According to a legal expert, the number of charges against Schlegel may be part of the reason for his lengthy trial. James Tuomey, a criminal defense lawyer who is not affiliated with the trial, said the case is unusual for the large number of charges and evidence presented. "For the jurors to go over that breadth of evidence and weeks of testimony will take time," Tuomey said. "It's a serious undertaking that the jurors are involved in now, and will continue Monday and possibly for additional days in the coming week."
CBS News
16-06-2025
- CBS News
Jury deliberation to begin in trial for former Maryland teacher accused of sexual abuse
Jury deliberations to begin in trial of former Maryland teacher accused of abusing students Jury deliberations to begin in trial of former Maryland teacher accused of abusing students Jury deliberations to begin in trial of former Maryland teacher accused of abusing students The trial for a former Maryland teacher who was accused of sexually abusing students is now in the hands of the jury. Matthew Schlegel, a former third-grade teacher at Severna Park Elementary School in Anne Arundel County, is accused of sexually abusing multiple students between August 2022 and March 2024. His trial began on May 19 and is entering its fifth week as the jury prepares to decide the verdict on 33 counts of sexual abuse of a minor and assault. Legal expert notes number of charges James Tuomey is a criminal defense lawyer in Anne Arundel County. He is not affiliated with the trial. He observed the court proceeding last week and said the gallery was full, calling it very serious and somber. Tuomey said this type of case is unusual because of the number of charges and evidence presented over the last four weeks. "I don't recall seeing a criminal case with this number of charges in Anne Arundel County…in the last 10 years," Tuomey said. Matthew Schlegel testifies during abuse trial During the trial, jurors heard testimony from former students and their parents, along with Schlegel, who took the stand, according to our partners at The Baltimore Banner. He denied every allegation against him. The defense also called other witnesses, including Schlegel's wife. "Here the defense…called the defendant to testify, called their own witnesses to testify, called an expert witness to testify, which is certainly the expectation rather than the rule in Anne Arundel County when it comes to serious felony trials," Tuomey said. Students testify in former teacher's abuse trial The 45-year-old former math teacher is accused of abusing eight students during class. During the trial, several alleged victims recalled the abuse. WJZ was in court when a 10-year-old girl took the stand. She claimed her former teacher inappropriately touched her multiple times, including at her desk, when she would go to his desk to ask for help and when he would hug her. The girl said she didn't report the abuse earlier because she was scared. She and another alleged victim discussed it together, writing a note on an iPad. Another 9-year-old student told the jury that many people would go behind the desk to ask questions and receive help. Other classmates couldn't see what was happening from the waist down. Some of the parents of these victims also testified. One mother said when she found out about the alleged abuse, her stomach sank, and she reported it to the school immediately. "In this case, it wasn't just one witness, and it wasn't a day or a week, but it was several witnesses and several weeks, so it certainly is an unusual case and a draining case," Tuomey said. What's next in Schlegel's abuse trial? Schlegel's trial began in mid-May and is now running into mid-June. Tuomey said this trial is long for the state system because of the amount of evidence and testimony required for each of the 33 charges. He also said he observed several legal challenges when he was in the gallery, adding that every third question required a discussion at the bench. "For the jurors to go over that breadth of evidence and weeks of testimony will take time," Tuomey said. "It's a serious undertaking that the jurors are involved in now, and will continue Monday and possibly for additional days in the coming week." Schlegel was removed from the classroom in March 2024 and arrested a few months later. He is currently being held without bond pending the jury's verdict. His trial is scheduled to resume on Monday, June 16, at 9 a.m., when the jury will continue deliberating.
