Matthew Cunningham, 35, of Brockton, Massachusetts, United States is a music teacher. He is president-elect of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
Matthew Cunningham
In 2013, Cunningham became the choral director of Brockton High School in Brockton. He is an alumnus of the school.
On December 17, 2019, Cunningham performed at the Holiday Concert at Brockton High School. The performance was presented by the school’s music department.
While employed by the school, Cunningham is accused of paying a boy, 17, for sex. Through the dating app Grindr, the teacher allegedly asked the boy, who is attending the school, if he was willing to engage in sex acts for money.
On April 27, 2025, Cunningham allegedly met with the boy, performed a sexual act on the minor and paid him through an app. Administrators of the app flagged the transaction to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which contacted the Brockton Police Department.
The court appointed Brendan Kelly as Cunningham’s defense attorney. The teacher was not aware that the boy was a minor and a Brockton High School student, the attorney claimed.
After the encounter, the boy recognized Cunningham as the choral director at Brockton High School. On August 18, 2025, a criminal complaint against the teacher was issued.
On August 19, 2025, a warrant was issued for Cunningham’s arrest. At 10:20 a.m. that day, Brockton Police Department officers and members of the special services section high risk victim squad of Massachusetts State Police arrested him at his residence in Brockton.
On the same day, Cunningham was arraigned in the district court of Brockton and he pleaded not guilty to sexual conduct for a fee and trafficking of a person for sexual servitude. Upon learning of the charges, Brockton Public Schools placed him on administrative leave.
Bail for Cunningham was set at $25,000 cash. He is required to stay within Massachusetts and surrender his passport and prohibited from using social media.
Cunningham will attend a status hearing on August 21, 2025 and a probable cause hearing on September 18, 2025. An ongoing investigation will include a forensic examination of his cell phone.
CONAN Daily 