Criminal charges against Matthew Cunningham, the former Brockton High School choir director, were dropped Thursday after the alleged victim declined to take the stand, ending the county’s case and leaving the community with more questions than answers. Cunningham, 35, had been on leave from the district since his arrest last year.
According to WHDH, prosecutors told the court the accuser, now 18, did not want to testify, saying that without that cooperation “the case couldn’t move forward.”
Case background
Cunningham was arrested in August 2025 and charged with trafficking and sexual conduct for a fee tied to an alleged encounter with a 17-year-old after contact made online. As reported by The Boston Globe, prosecutors said app administrators flagged a payment that drew the attention of the FBI, which then notified Brockton police. Cunningham pleaded not guilty at the time and was held on $25,000 cash bail.
Why prosecutors dropped the case
In court, prosecutors said they could not proceed without the in-person testimony of the alleged victim. When a central witness steps back, prosecutors have to weigh whether whatever evidence remains can possibly meet the high burden of proof required in a criminal case.
The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office outlines that victims have the right to consult with prosecutors before a case is terminated, and that those conversations factor into charging decisions and whether a case continues or is dropped.
School response and what is next
Brockton Public Schools placed Cunningham on paid administrative leave after his arrest and said it was “deeply troubled” by the allegations, as previously reported by The Boston Globe. With the criminal case now dismissed, the county’s prosecution is over for the moment. Whether it ever comes back to life would depend on new evidence surfacing or a witness deciding to cooperate…