Man sent back to Maryland to face sex with minor charges

A Maryland man wanted on sexual abuse charges was nabbed in Cherokee and has waived extradition to Maryland.

Matthew Barth, 44, of Ellicott City, Maryland was arrested for sexual abuse of a minor and a third-degree sex offense.

Barth was an English teacher at Mount Hebron High School having taught for Howard County since 2003.

The school is where he allegedly groomed and assaulted his 15-year-old victim.

“Police were notified May 2 of the suspected sexual abuse by a friend of the victim,” Howard County Police said. “Through investigation, detectives believe the incidents occurred on multiple occasions inside the school.”

HCPD accessed electronic records as part of the investigation and was able to glean enough information to confirm suspicions of the abuse. 

The school system placed Barth on administrative leave and removed him from contact with students.

He was apprehended without incident by Cherokee Indian Police Department on May 4. The HCPD confirmed that he was picked up on their arrest warrant and had been in North Carolina for less than a day. 

They could not say whether Barth had a connection to the state or came in an attempt to flee the charges he faces.

Barth waived extradition to Maryland May 8 in Jackson County District Court on charges of third-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, fourth-degree sex offense by person in position of authority and fourth-degree sex offense-sex contact.