MD Teacher Acquitted of Child Sex Abuse Charges Reassigned
Former Severna Park Teacher Matthew Schlegel Reassigned to Student-Free Location
In Maryland, a case involving former Severna Park Elementary teacher Matthew Schlegel has drawn widespread attention and deep concern among families. In June 2025, Schlegel was acquitted of 18 counts of sexual abuse and related offenses.
The jury deadlocked on three remaining assault charges, which prosecutors later dismissed.
Now, just two months later, Schlegel has been reassigned to a district job location with no students while Anne Arundel County Public Schools conducts its own internal review.
The Child Victims Act of 2023: A Lifeline for Maryland Survivors
For survivors, parents, and community members, the outcome raises painful questions. How could so many charges result in so few legal consequences?
What role does the school system play in protecting children even after a criminal acquittal? And what avenues remain open for survivors who feel the system failed them?
If you or someone you know is the survivor of childhood sexual abuse committed by an employee of a Maryland school district, the new Child Victims Act of 2023 has expanded your statute of limitations. This means you may have a case, which could entitle you to justice in the form of monetary compensation.
Unfortunately, we cannot take back or undo the trauma you have experienced. Still, the experienced teacher sex abuse lawyers at The Yost Legal Group can help you seek the justice you deserve. Call or text us today at 410-659-6800.
Please remember: It was not your fault. You are not alone. Contact our legal team today for a free and confidential consultation and for an explanation of your rights. We are here to help.
The Trial and Acquittal of Severna Park Teacher Matthew Schlegel
In June 2025, after weeks of testimony, a jury found Schlegel not guilty on 18 counts that alleged sexual abuse and related sex offenses involving students at Severna Park Elementary.
Jurors later spoke to local media, explaining that the state had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
This legal standard is critical to understand. In criminal court, the burden on prosecutors is deliberately high, requiring jurors to find guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
In cases involving child victims, this expectation can be especially challenging.
Children may struggle to testify consistently, recall events clearly, or withstand aggressive cross-examination. As Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess explained after the verdict:
“This is certainly not the outcome that we had hoped for in this case. One thing that strikes me is the criminal justice system expects a lot from child victims, and this case is no exception. While our office cannot guarantee verdicts in difficult cases, what we can guarantee is that we will always stand up for children and sexual assault victims, which we did in this case.”
Though the jury acquitted Schlegel on 18 counts, they could not reach an agreement on the three remaining second-degree assault charges.
Days later, prosecutors announced they would not retry the case, effectively ending the criminal proceedings.
Release and Conditions of Severna Park Teacher Matthew Schlegel
After 13 months in prison, the judge ordered Schlegel’s immediate release on his own recognizance following the acquittal. However, conditions were imposed:
- No unsupervised contact with minors, except his own children.
- No contact with alleged victims or their families.
These restrictions reflect a reality survivors know well. The legal system may not convict, yet courts still acknowledge the need for limits on behavior to protect children.
As for the school district, Anne Arundel County Public Schools had placed Schlegel on administrative leave during the criminal trial.
After the acquittal and dismissal of charges, the district restored him to paid employment.
However, he has not been reassigned to a classroom. Instead, as of August 2025, he is working in a district facility where no students are present, pending the outcome of the district’s internal review.
After the Verdict: What Survivors and Communities Can Do Next
For many parents, the decision to reinstate Schlegel—even in a non-teaching role—feels like a betrayal. Families argue that schools carry responsibilities separate from criminal courts.
A “not guilty” verdict does not automatically mean an individual is fit to return to the classroom. Internal reviews, guided by state education law, may apply different standards focused on safety and professional conduct.
The school district has stated that its investigation is ongoing and that it will determine final employment status based on its policies and findings.
If you or a loved one experienced childhood sexual abuse in a Maryland public school, facility, or school-sanctioned event, you may have a case and be entitled to significant compensation.
Contact the compassionate sexual abuse survivor lawyers at The Yost Legal Group today for a free and confidential consultation: 410-659-6800.
Looking Out for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
For survivors and family members, the Schlegel verdict is not just about one teacher. It represents the broader challenge of speaking truth in a system built around high burdens of proof. When jurors say, “The case was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” survivors may hear, “We don’t believe you.”
But legal outcomes do not erase survivor experiences. Survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and supported.
Civil cases, community advocacy, and trauma-informed legal support all provide ways to reclaim voice and agency when the criminal system falls short.
Cases like Schlegel’s reveal gaps in the system. While prosecutors must meet the criminal burden of proof, schools and communities can act under broader principles of child protection.
Moving forward, Maryland families are asking hard questions:
- Should school employees acquitted of abuse ever be reassigned to teaching roles?
- How can districts strengthen their internal investigative processes?
- What reforms are needed to support children who testify in abuse trials?
These are not abstract questions. They shape how safe children feel walking into classrooms every day. Survivor stories should drive policy reform, ensuring that schools prioritize child safety over employment technicalities.
Protecting Our Children: The Legal Realities Every Parent Should Know
Matthew Schlegel’s acquittal does not end the conversation. It challenges us to examine how we protect children, how we hold institutions accountable, and how we stand with survivors when the legal system cannot deliver the closure they deserve.
It also raises questions about whether school districts need to re-evaluate their teachers’ union contracts that currently stipulate the reassignment of teachers within their incumbent districts should they beat charges brought against them.
The Yost Legal Group, A Lifeline for Maryland Survivors
The strength of the children who testified and the strength of the community to come together in support of the little girls are deserving of commendation and recognition.
The Yost Legal Group stands with survivors. Your experiences are to be believed, and your voices should be heard. You are not alone.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse or know someone who is a survivor, please contact The Yost Legal Group today for a free and confidential consultation.
If you are ready to talk, we are ready to listen. Our experienced and compassionate sexual abuse survivor attorneys are here to help you and provide the legal guidance you deserve. When you are ready, call or text us a 410-659-6800.
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