Maryland Teacher Partially Acquitted on Student Sexual Abuse Charges

Several cases involving educators and former law enforcement officers facing sexual abuse and child pornography charges are currently progressing through the courts. Amir Makda, a teacher at Shuttleworth College, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a girl aged 13-17 and awaits sentencing. A former Webster County sheriff’s deputy, Pohlmeier, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography, with investigators having found explicit files on his phone. In Maryland, suspended teacher Matthew Schlegel was found not guilty on 18 counts of sexual abuse, though the jury deadlocked on three charges, leading to a partial verdict and a mistrial on those counts. Schlegel’s trial involved testimonies from alleged victims and lasted five weeks. These cases highlight ongoing legal proceedings addressing alleged sexual misconduct involving minors in educational and law enforcement settings.