Matthew Rutledge, a former teacher at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, officially entered a not guilty plea in Berkshire Superior Court. The 64-year-old, who previously held roles as a history teacher, coach, resident adviser, and department chair, faces three counts of rape following a grand jury indictment. This court appearance marks a major win for Hilary Simon and Melissa Fares, who have spent years working to bring these allegations to light.
Per NBC News, the legal process has been long and, at times, discouraging. Back in October 2024, Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue initially announced that his office could not pursue criminal charges against Rutledge. At the time, the office cited the fact that the age of consent in Massachusetts is 16, and existing state law did not criminalize sexual relations between teachers and students if the student had reached that age.
