Several families launched a petition to urge a Maryland school district not to bring back Matthew Schlegel, a teacher who was acquitted of sex abuse in June. 

Schlegel was found not guilty on 18 counts of sex offenses, and three other charges were dismissed after a five-week trial. 

He was accused of sexually abusing eight of his students between 2022 and 2024 when he was a third-grade teacher at an Anne Arundel County elementary school. 

"After investigations by multiple state agencies and a full public trial, he was acquitted of all charges," his attorneys said in a statement Wednesday. "That verdict is not just a legal technicality-it is a formal recognition that the allegations against him are not supported by credible evidence."

Petition to prevent Schlegel's return 

Schlegel was suspended without pay during the investigation and trial. After a jury acquitted him, the district restored his full employment.

Attorney Thiru Vignarajah, who represents some of the families, said that despite the verdict, multiple allegations should be enough to keep Schlegel out of the classroom.

"Even one allegation is enough, one allegation, one violation of a child's trust, of a family's trust, of a community's trust, is enough for termination, and certainly enough to preclude that person from returning to a teaching role," Vignarajah said.

Parents of some alleged victims and advocates for child sex abuse victims have continued to express their outrage after the trial, claiming Schlegel was wrongly acquitted. 

"It would be completely offensive, it would be completely reckless, for this teacher to be allowed back in the classroom," a parent told WJZ.    

, launched by the families through attorney Thiru Vignarajah, urges the school district to keep Schlegel out of the classroom. 

"Teaching is not a right—it is a responsibility and a privilege. We believe student safety must come first," the petition reads. 

Returning to work after acquittal 

After Schlegel was acquitted in June, the school district said it would work to finalize a review of his job status, as they are obligated to do under state law. 

According to Vignarajah, the school district said this week that it's still evaluating the employment decision. 

"The group is initiating a petition drive to ensure the public's voice is heard loud and clear: Individuals who betray our trust and exploit our children should never again teach in Anne Arundel County," Vignarajah said in a statement.

Schlegel was released from custody shortly after the verdict. A judge initially prohibited him from contacting the alleged victims or their families and prohibited him from being unsupervised around minors. 

His attorneys said he suffered and would be in shock for some time. 

"Mr. Schlegel has the right to rebuild his life and career without being subjected to a campaign of misinformation and harassment," Schlegel's attorney said. "I urge everyone to respect the judicial outcome, cease the spread of falsehoods, and consider the harm being done, not only to him, but to the integrity of our community."

• Anne Arundel County