Massachusetts Music Teacher Arrested on Sex Trafficking Charges
A music teacher from Massachusetts faces serious accusations of sex trafficking minors that he allegedly met through an LGBTQ dating app. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the arrest, stating that it resulted from a probe conducted by the Massachusetts State Police along with the Brockton Police Department.
Matthew Cunningham, 35, was taken into custody at his home in Brockton around 10:20 a.m. on a Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty to charges related to sexual slavery and human trafficking during his court appearance. The judge has set bail at $25,000, and if released, Cunningham will be subject to certain conditions.
As reported, those conditions include being confined to his home with GPS monitoring, no contact with victims, leaving Brockton High School, avoiding social media, waiving his passport, and remaining in Massachusetts.
The allegations stem from months of investigation. The District Attorney’s Office detailed that on April 27, 2025, Cunningham allegedly met with a minor male victim, engaged in sexual acts, and compensated the victim using the app. The app’s administrator flagged suspicious financial transactions, leading to an FBI notification.
Reports indicate that Cunningham had asked the victim if he was willing to engage in sexual activities for payment via Grindr. After their encounter, the victim recognized Cunningham as his choir director at school, which understandably made him uncomfortable.
Cunningham’s defense attorney expressed that he was not aware that his client was a minor or a student at Brockton High School. According to the guidelines of Grindr, users must be at least 18 years old to participate.
Brockton Public Schools has placed Cunningham on paid administrative leave upon learning of the allegations. Their statement expressed concern regarding the charges and emphasized their commitment to the ongoing investigation, which includes forensic testing of Cunningham’s phones.
Cunningham is set to appear in court again on September 18.
