Child Sex Abuse in USA > 'Paint the Park Pink' in MD; NV man gets Life for CSA; Boston pedo really sick

 

Maryland parents plant pink signs to protest after teacher found not guilty of sex abuse

Caroline Foreback

Updated on: June 25, 2025 / 9:12 AM EDT / CBS Baltimore  

Maryland parents planted pink signs in Anne Arundel County Tuesday after

an elementary school teacher was found not guilty of child sex abuse. 

Matthew Schlegel, a 45-year-old math teacher at Severna Park Elementary School, was released on his own recognizance after he was cleared of 18 counts of abusing students at the school.

Parents made roughly 2,000 pink signs in support of the young students who testified against their teacher during a weeks-long trial.

The signs across town read, "We stand with our girls" and "We believe them."

"They know that these are houses where they can feel safe," said Severna Park parent Hannah Warzoah. "They know that they're believed and they're cared about."

How do they know those houses are safe? Anyone can put up a sign, even a pedophile.

Students testify against Schlegel

Five 10-year-old girls testified that Schlegel touched them inappropriately in class and withstood hours of cross-examination.

In 2024, Schlegel was arrested and was accused of sexually abusing eight students during class time between 2022 and 2024. He denied every allegation. 

On June 18, a jury returned with a partial verdict, which found Schlegel not guilty. Jurors were unable to agree on the three remaining charges.

The parents of the children who testified left the courtroom devastated. Schlegel was released the day after the verdict.

In the meantime, the mother of one of the alleged victims told WJZ the signs are a "lifeline" and "Paint the Park Pink" is a call for justice, accountability, and healing.

"Even though we all felt universally hurt and horrified last week, coming out of it is a movement that hopefully will prevent this from happening again," Warzoah said.

Petition calls for Schlegel's firing

Parents started a petition demanding that Anne Arundel County Public Schools immediately fire Schlegel, who was suspended after his arrest. He became a teacher at Severna Park Elementary School in 2016.

 A spokesperson for AACPS told WJZ the district will finalize its review regarding Schlegel's job status and employment assignment, "by our obligations under state law."

Parents held a community meeting at Hatton Beach on Tuesday to organize and shape their response.

Nevada man sentenced to life in prison for

child sexual assault

The Washoe County District Attorney's office has provided details about the sentencing of a Sparks man convicted of multiple child sex charges.

39-year-old Erik Self Jr. has been convicted of the charges of sexual assault against a child under 16, and attempted lewdness by a person over 18 with a child less than 14.

Self has been sentenced to life in prison, and will be eligible for parole after 30 years.

According to the DA's office, in September 2022 officers responded to an apartment on Greyhaven Lane and found Self suicidal and high on methamphetamine. During the encounter, he admitted to having molested children.

During an investigation, Sparks Police Department were able to find two children who shared that Self had abused them.

At the end of the investigation, Self was extradited to Washoe County from Ada County, Idaho, where he was in jail on unrelated charged.

To read the full press release, visit the Washoe County website.

Boston child rapist pleads guilty to having videos of the sexual abuse of babies

By 

• Susannah Sudborough | SSudborough@masslive.com

A Boston man who was previously convicted of raping a child has pleaded guilty to having videos showing the sexual abuse of children as young as babies, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Bryan Horgan, 59, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in federal court in Boston on Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s office said in a press release. 

Federal law enforcement officers began investigating Horgan after he was identified as the owner of a Microsoft account responsible for uploading child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. During a search of his home, investigators found an electronic device containing several videos depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as infants.

Horgan was previously convicted of child rape, assault of a child with intent to rape, indecent assault and battery on a child, dissemination of obscene material to a minor and possession of child pornography in Suffolk County Superior Court, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. He is a registered Level 3 sex offender, meaning that authorities believe he is likely to commit another such crime.

Horgan was charged in the latest case in April 2024 and has been in police custody since that time, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 18, and due to his prior convictions, he faces 10 to 20 years in prison, five years to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.