Severna Park Elementary teacher indicted on 55 charges, 20 felonies in child sex abuse case

A grand jury indicted Matthew Schlegel, the former third-grade teacher at Severna Park Elementary accused of touching several of his students, on 55 charges Friday. Twenty of them are felonies.

The new number of charges is a substantial increase to what was already a hefty case. Following his arrest last month at his home in Severna Park, Schlegel faced 36 offenses, including seven counts of child sex abuse and 14 counts of fourth-degree sex offense — a charge typically levied against a person in a position of authority.

A June 12 preliminary hearing in district court is now canceled. Schlegel’s next court appearance will take place June 17 in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court and he faces more charges in each crime: 11 counts of child sex abuse and 18 counts of fourth-degree sex offense.

Schlegel, a 16-year veteran of Anne Arundel County Public Schools, was first accused in March of inappropriately touching one of his students. After being removed indefinitely from a child-facing position, he became the subject of a two-month investigation, in which eight students described being touched in and outside his classroom.

Though the number of charges has increased in the case, the number of accusers has not, according to the indictment.

Bob Mosier, a school spokesperson, previously said Anne Arundel Public Schools does not comment on active litigation.

Defense attorney Peter O’Neill declined to comment Friday.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.