LA PLATA, MD — On April 15, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West handed down a significant sentence to Malcolm Fluellyn, a 27-year-old former substitute teacher from Bryans Road. Fluellyn was sentenced to 46 years in prison, with all but 15 years suspended, for his crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors. Upon release, he will be under supervised probation for five years.
This sentencing followed Fluellyn’s guilty plea on February 26, 2024, to two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and six counts of Fourth-Degree Sexual Offense. The plea came after an investigation triggered by reports from students at General Smallwood Middle School, where Fluellyn had worked.
On February 10, 2023, a school resource officer received multiple allegations that Fluellyn had inappropriately touched several students.
Investigations confirmed that Fluellyn was employed as a permanent substitute teacher at the school from December 2022 to February 2023. During this period, he made inappropriate physical contacts with victims, some repeatedly, and made unsuitable sexual comments on Instagram about their bodies. The victims were between the ages of 12 and 13. The school took swift action, terminating Fluellyn’s employment upon learning of the incidents.
At the sentencing, the Assistant State’s Attorney remarked, “Members of this community, and any community, should be able to send their children to school without having to worry that an adult will sexually prey on them in any way. It’s just not acceptable.” This statement underscores the serious breach of trust and the disturbing nature of the crimes committed.
The breakdown of the sentencing is as follows:
- Count 16 – Sexual Abuse of a Minor: 25 years, with all but 7 years suspended.
- Count 21 – Sexual Abuse of a Minor: 21 years, with all but 8 years suspended, to run consecutive to Count 16.
- Counts 4, 29, 31, 33, 37, 39 – Fourth-Degree Sexual Offense: Each count receiving 1 year, to run concurrently with each other and with Count 16.
The case has drawn significant attention in the community, raising concerns about safety and oversight within educational institutions and prompting discussions about how to better protect children in schools.
