Judge rules school teacher charged with sexual abuse of minors to remain held in jail
Matthew Schlegel charged with 36 counts of sexual abuse, other offenses
Share
Updated: 6:12 PM EDT May 28, 2024
IN THE END, THE JUDGE SAID SHE MUST CONSIDER THE SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE EIGHT GIRLS, WHO TOLD AUTHORITIES THAT THEIR SEVERNA PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATH TEACHER IN APPROPRIATELY TOUCHED THEM IN HIS CLASSROOM DURING SCHOOL HOURS, AND THEN SHE ORDERED MATTHEW SCOTT BANKS SCHLEGEL TO BE HELD WITHOUT BOND AT THE JENNIFER ROAD DETENTION CENTER. AND THAT’S WHERE THE 44 YEAR-OLD APPEARED VIA VIDEO LINK FOR TODAY’S HEARING AND WHERE HE IS BEING IMPROPERLY HELD, ACCORDING TO HIS DEFENSE TEAM ON 36 CRIMINAL COUNTS, INCLUDING ASSAULT AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR. THE COURTROOM TODAY WAS PACKED WITH PARENTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE GIRLS. MANY CRIED AND HUGGED AFTER HEARING THE JUDGE’S DECISION, THE STATE POINTING OUT ONE GIRL, TOLD OFFICERS, I STILL WANT MR. SCHLEGEL TO BE MY TEACHER. I JUST WANT HIM TO STOP TOUCHING ME. THE DEFENSE FILED FOR TODAY’S CIVIL HEARING, ARGUING THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE AIRED AT THE BAIL REVIEW WHEN HE FAILED TO CONSIDER THE LEAST ONEROUS OPTION FOR RELEASE, WHICH WOULD BE TO SEND HIM HOME TO HIS WIFE AND TWO YOUNG SONS AT THEIR HOME IN SEVERNA PARK. EVEN HOUSE ARREST, THEY SAID, AND OFFERED UP HIS PARENTS HOME IN ROCKVILLE AS AN ALTERNATIVE. THE DEFENSE ARGUING HE HAS NO RECORD. HE DIDN’T RUN WHEN A CIVIL LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST HIM IN THE CASE, OR WHEN SOMEONE TOSSED AN INCENSE DEVICE ON HIS FRONT LAWN. THEY TOLD THE JUDGE HIS WIFE IS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. HIS PARENTS ARE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WE TRIED TO GET THEIR REACTION ON THEIR WAY OUT OF COURT TODAY THAT YOU WERE LATE COMING TODAY TO THIS HEARING. 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 RULING? NO. THANK YOU. WHAT ABOUT YOU, MA’AM? EXCUSE ME, MA’AM, ANY REACTION TO THE RULING ON YOUR SON TODAY? THE DEFENSE SUBMITTED 17 CHARACTER LETTERS AHEAD OF TODAY’S HEARING, INCLUDING FROM SCHLEGEL’S IN-LAWS, HIS COLLEGE BUDDIES, AND A FORMER STUDENT. SO MANY PEOPLE TURNED UP THAT THE HEARING ACTUALLY HAD TO BE MOVED TO THE LARGEST COURTROOM. HERE, IT HOLDS 200 PEOPLE, AND IT WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY. SCHLEGEL’S NEXT CRIMINAL COURT DATE IN THIS MATTER IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 12TH. REPORTING FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT. I'
Advertisement
Judge rules school teacher charged with sexual abuse of minors to remain held in jail
Matthew Schlegel charged with 36 counts of sexual abuse, other offenses
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 on May 16 with 36 counts of sexual abuse and other charges. At his bail review hearing the next day, a judge ordered Schlegel to be held without bond based on concerns about the community's safety.The defense filed for Tuesday's civil hearing, arguing the district court judge erred at the bail review when he didn't consider "the least onerous option," which would be to send Schlegel home to his wife and young sons in Severna Park or even on house arrest, offering his parents' home in Rockville as an alternative.The defense said Schlegel has no record, didn't run when a civil lawsuit was filed against him in the case or when someone tossed an incendiary device on his front lawn.On Tuesday, the judge said she must also consider the safety and mental health of the eight girls who told authorities their math teacher touched them inappropriately in his classroom during school 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 to remain held without bond at the Jennifer Road Detention Center, where he appeared via video for Tuesday's hearing. His defense team claimed Schlegel is being improperly held.The courtroom was packed with parents, friends and family members of the girls, many of whom cried and hugged after hearing the judge's decision.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. —
A Severna Park Elementary School teacher will remain in jail until his trial, an Anne Arundel County judge ruled Tuesday afternoon.
The defense filed for Tuesday's civil hearing, arguing the district court judge erred at the bail review when he didn't consider "the least onerous option," which would be to send Schlegel home to his wife and young sons in Severna Park or even on house arrest, offering his parents' home in Rockville as an alternative.
The defense said Schlegel has no record, didn't run when a civil lawsuit was filed against him in the case or when someone tossed an incendiary device on his front lawn.
On Tuesday, the judge said she must also consider the safety and mental health of the eight girls who told authorities their math teacher touched them inappropriately in his classroom during school 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 to remain held without bond at the Jennifer Road Detention Center, where he appeared via video for Tuesday's hearing. His defense team claimed Schlegel is being improperly held.
The courtroom was packed with parents, friends and family members of the girls, many of whom cried and hugged after hearing the judge's decision.
