Primary School Teacher Charged with 55 Cases of Child Sexual Abuse: ‘The Skill of Seduction’

The teacher was arrested last month and is being held without bail pending trial

Anne Arundel County Police

An elementary school teacher accused of sexually abusing his students was recently indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland on dozens of charges.

According to documents obtained by CBS News, WBFF-TV and Capital Newspaper.

Schlegel was originally arrested last month at his home on 36 charges, including seven counts of child sexual abuse and 14 counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, sources said.

According to charging documents obtained by Capital NewspaperPolice have launched an investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of Schlegel and one of his students at Severna Park Elementary School in March 2024.

At least seven other students later came forward with their own allegations of abuse that allegedly occurred from August 2022 to March 2024, often during school hours, authorities say. Schlegel was removed from the classroom on March 15 as a result of the investigation.

The Anne Arundel District Attorney’s Office and Anne Arundel Public Schools did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

During a May 28 court hearing, a judge denied Schlegel bail ahead of his trial, saying the “statement of fact, if true, is shameful,” WBFF-TV reported.

Peter O’Neill, a lawyer for the former teacher, argued in court that Schlegel should be released on bail, saying he is not a flight risk because of his connections in the city. More than 30 people — including Schlegel’s wife and family members, friends and former students — attended Schlegel’s court hearing on his behalf, WBFF-TV reported. Gazeta Stołeczna.

However, prosecutors described the suspect as “clever” and “skilled in seducing children,” sources say.

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O’Neill told authorities there was also a civil lawsuit filed by the families of alleged victims against Schlegel and the district school system, Anne Arundel Public Schools. The Capital Newspaper.

According to CBS News, Schlegel has been a teacher in Anne Arundel County Public Schools since 2008 and started teaching at Severna Park Elementary School in 2016.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual harassment, text “STRENGTH” to Crisis Text Line 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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