Greencastle man, a former teacher in Md., charged with having sex with student

A former South Hagerstown (Md.)  High School social studies teacher was being held in Pennsylvania on $250,000 bond Friday on charges he had a sexual relationship with a student.

Matthew Leonard Poling, 41, of Sherwood Drive, Greencastle, was picked up by Pennsylvania State Police at about 2:30 a.m. Friday at a residence on the 800 block of Pensinger Road outside of Greencastle in Antrim Township, a news release stated.

Poling is alleged to have had sex with the 17-year-old student on at least three occasions in Pennsylvania — at motels in Greencastle and Waynesboro, and at his Greencastle apartment, according to the charging document filed by Pennsylvania State Police. He is charged there with institutional sexual assault involving a teacher and student.

The case is related to an investigation by the Hagerstown Police Department, the affidavit of probable cause said.

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Online Maryland Court records show Poling was indicted by a Washington County grand jury on June 26 on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor, stating a time frame of September 2019 to the end of May. Poling was taken into custody on the charge on July 2 and posted a $50,000 bond on July 6, according to online court records. 

An information sheet accompanying the July 2 warrant referred to Poling as being on administrative leave from his South High teaching position, but a Washington County Public Schools spokeswoman on Thursday said he was no longer employed by the school system. The spokeswoman said he was employed by the school system for 12 years.

In the Pennsylvania case, police accuse Poling of institutional sexual assault for incidents that occurred from March to May in that state. 

The girl was interviewed in May by a Department of Social Services investigator at the Child Advocacy Center in Hagerstown, according to the Pennsylvania affidavit. She admitted to having sex with Poling and that he had given her gifts.

Hotel receipts, love letters, journals and social media messages were obtained by Pennsylvania State Police, along with gifts Poling is alleged to have given her, the document said.

Police spoke with Poling at his apartment on June 13, the document said. He initially indicated he would give a statement to police in the presence of an attorney he had retained, the document said.

Poling told investigators he would meet with them for an interview on June 15 or 16, the document said. When he failed to appear on June 15, he was contacted by police and he told them he would not be making a statement, the document said.

A day later, police obtained a letter Poling had written to a friend in which he admitted to having a sexual relationship with the student. In the letter, he acknowledged he would be facing criminal charges in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Poling also wrote apology letters to the victim and to a relative, the document said.

Pennsylvania State Police obtained an arrest warrant for Poling on Tuesday and issued a news release asking the public's assistance as to his whereabouts.

Don Aines is a Gannett reporter based in Hagerstown, Md.