Former Charles substitute teacher pleads guilty to sexual offenses

A former substitute teacher for Charles public schools pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and other sexual offenses on Feb. 26.

Malcolm Xavier Fluellyn, 27, of Bryans Road worked as a permanent substitute teacher at Gen. Smallwood Middle School from December 2022 through February 2023.

On Feb. 10, 2023, a school resource officer at Smallwood Middle contacted the Charles County Sheriff’s Office to report a possible sexual assault between Fluellyn and multiple students.

Fluellyn allegedly inappropriately touched the victims, some on numerous occasions, at the school while he worked there. Additionally, Fluellyn reached out to some of the victims on Instagram and made inappropriate sexual comments about their bodies, according to the Charles state’s attorney’s office.

He was also charged with 12 misdemeanor counts of showing obscene material to a child, six counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree sex offense and one misdemeanor count of delivering or selling tobacco paraphernalia to someone under the age of 21.

In addition to his time at Smallwood Middle, Fluellyn served one day as a substitute at Matthew Henson Middle School in December 2022.

According to the sheriff’s office, no students at Henson Middle made any allegations.

A parent report to the school about inappropriate contact via social media with a student was made on Feb. 10, 2023. Fluellyn was immediately removed from the school, according to a letter from Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Navarro sent to parents. Fluellyn was officially terminated on Feb. 13, 2023.

The eight victims ranged in age between 12 and 13 years old.

All school system employees, including substitute teachers, must undergo a thorough background screening and complete required training including courses on sexual harassment and child abuse. The school system also randomly screens all employees within three years to ensure current background checks are on file.

A sentencing date has been set for April 15. Fluellyn faces 50 years in prison.