Rustburg Middle School teacher faces indecent liberties charge

A Rustburg Middle School teacher is in jail after his arrest Monday on sex charges.

Matthew Judd Collins, 26, of Lynchburg, was charged with taking indecent liberties with a child under the age of 15. He is being held in the Campbell County Adult Detention Center, said Capt. L.T. Guthrie of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.

Collins was in his fifth year as a physical education teacher for fifth- and sixth-grade students at Rustburg Middle, said Robert Johnson, assistant superintendent for administration for Campbell County Schools.

Johnson would not say if the child is a student at Rustburg Middle, although he did say the child was not in Collins’ class.

Guthrie said the incident, alleged to have happened between Jan. 1 and March 13, did not occur on school property.

Principal Richard Burge sent a letter home to parents today.

“I regret to inform you of an incident that has occurred involving a RMS teacher,” the letter states. “We are cooperating with the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department in an ongoing investigation regarding the inappropriate and unprofessional behavior of this teacher.

“We have taken immediate and appropriate personnel action. Due to the ongoing investigation I am not able to specifically discuss this action; however, I can assure you this individual will not return to RMS.”