DA does not prosecute teacher accused of manipulating, molesting girls for years at Pittsfield school

The Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office will not prosecute a former teacher at Miss Hall’s School, a private girls’ high school in Pittsfield, who was accused of grooming and sexually abusing students.

Matthew Rutledge, a longtime history teacher at the school, has been accused of sexual misconduct by a total of five women. Local authorities were first alerted in the spring of this year to allegations of possible criminal activity involving Rutledge. Pittsfield police began an investigation, which has since concluded that no criminal conduct occurred, according to a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office.

In Massachusetts, the age of consent is 16. At least two of the women have publicly stated that Rutledge began grooming them and engaging in inappropriate conduct when they were younger, and that Rutledge sexually assaulted them after they were 16 years old.

“Massachusetts law sets the age of consent at 16. Although the alleged conduct is deeply disturbing, it is not illegal,” prosecutor Timothy Shugrue said in a statement.

In March, the school’s principal, Julia Heaton, received a letter from an attorney representing a former student who accused Rutledge of engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with her. The accusations against Rutledge became public in April. Melissa Fares, a 2010 graduate of Miss Hall’s, said in a post to the school’s alumni group on Facebook that she formally reported the allegations to school officials.

“(Rutledge) used his power and control as a teacher (and as a counselor) to groom me for his own gratification,” Fares wrote, according to a screenshot posted by The Berkshire Eagle. The local newspaper was the first to report the allegations.

Hilary Simon, who graduated in 2005, announced that she had made similar allegations shortly afterward. By early May, a total of five former students had informed school officials and authorities of their abuse allegations.

The allegations span nearly two decades, from 1994 to 2010. Rutledge resigned earlier this year and is barred from returning to campus.

“Investigations into allegations of child abuse are inherently complex and require careful consideration. A thorough investigation into these alleged crimes (takes) a long time. Our Office, along with our partner law enforcement agencies, will not rush the investigation for the sole purpose of reaching a quick conclusion,” Shugrue said in his statement.

Shugrue’s office would not release additional information about the investigation, citing privacy concerns.

An external investigation is being conducted by “trauma-informed investigators” from Aleta Law, according to Miss Hall. In July, school officials said more than 50 alumni and employees had been interviewed and estimated it would take another six to nine months for the investigation to be concluded. The school promised to share Aleta’s full report with the public once this process is complete.

A request for comment sent to Miss Hall on Monday was not immediately returned. The school has previously said it will not comment publicly.

“Out of respect for the privacy of the courageous women who have come forward, as well as the integrity of ongoing investigations, we cannot comment on the details of the reports. This could interfere with investigations carried out by experienced professionals in these fields,” we can read on the school’s website.

Last week, Fares also filed a civil suit against Rutledge and the school in Berkshire Superior Court. Many details of Rutledge’s alleged misconduct involving Fares were detailed in a complaint.

Rutledge allegedly began paying special attention to Fares during her first year at school, asking her personal questions about her sexual history and giving her nicknames like “the little one.” He allegedly encouraged her to come to his class in the evening and made excuses for her to stay alone with her. He began sexually abusing her during her sophomore year, according to the complaint. Rutledge, then 45, gave Fares gifts and declared his love for him, it says. Fares were 15 at the time.

At the end of that year, Fares considered not returning to Miss Hall. Rutledge reportedly went to Fares’ home in Connecticut for a weekend, staying at a guest house. He allegedly groped her, held her hand and massaged her upper thigh under a table. When Rutledge left, he deliberately left a bottle of cologne “in case Melissa missed its scent,” according to the complaint.

Fares returned to school and Rutledge became his advisor. Miss Hall’s advisors function as “quasi-parents” to their advisors, according to the complaint. He allegedly continued to grope, hug and have sexually inappropriate conversations with Fares in his classroom at night.

Rutledge allegedly raped Fares in 2008, in the fall of his freshman year. She was 16 at the time. Fares did not verbally consent, according to the complaint. Rutledge allegedly raped her again in the spring of 2009, when she had just turned 17. Fares described feeling “paralyzed” during the clashes. Rutledge’s sexual abuse and exploitative behavior continued throughout Fares’ senior year and even after his graduation, according to the complaint.

“He was a master in the art of manipulation and exercised a great deal of power over Melissa,” Fares and his lawyers wrote in the complaint.

They also allege that several staff members knew or should have known that Rutledge “had a propensity to sexually abuse children at Miss Hall” and failed to take steps that could have prevented Fares’ abuse.

“Separate allegations have been made against two former employees of Miss Hall School. These claims were found to be unfounded,” a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

Several former students told WAMC that Miss Hall fostered a community where inappropriate and close relationships between students and faculty were the norm. Rumors that Rutledge was “dating” students swirled, but his power and popularity shielded him from scrutiny, WAMC reported.

“He was a larger-than-life guy,” Fares said. The Boston Globe earlier this year, referring to Rutledge. “He was extremely well-liked by the school. He had the whole world wrapped around his finger.

Members of the Class of 2014 delivered a letter signed by more than 180 alumni to school officials at this year’s reunion. They expressed grief and anger over the alleged abuse perpetrated by Rutledge and the school’s alleged dismissal of valid concerns before Fares went public.

“The alumni community readily and readily rallied behind (Rutledge’s) victims because many of us had heard rumors of his inappropriate conduct during our own school years,” they wrote.

In his interview with the GlobeFares said she was warned by a group of girls about Rutledge’s behavior. They used the term “Matt’s girls”.

In a separate interview, Simon spoke to the newspaper about his history with Rutledge, which includes many aspects similar to the way he allegedly groomed and abused Fares. Simon said he continued to exploit her while at university, while Rutledge also allegedly abused Fares.

Miss Hall officials say they are cooperating fully with all investigations. The school is entering into a multi-year partnership with the national nonprofit Learning Courage to work with faculty and address reports of misconduct. Learning Courage is conducting an audit of all school policies regarding the prevention and response to sexual misconduct. The group will publish a full report and issue a series of recommendations. Miss Hall’s is also increasing its counseling resources and expanding sexual misconduct prevention training for faculty and staff. Extensive details about the school’s response, including a lengthy FAQ, can be found online.

A copy of the civil suit filed last week against Rutledge and Miss Hall’s can be found below.

Rate complaint by Ross Cristantiello on Scribd