Former college students confront ‘Mr Great’ trainer accused of grievous crimes

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A former non-public college trainer, who was nicknamed "Mr. Great," has been charged with three counts of rape involving two of his former college students.

Matthew Rutledge, 64, walked into Berkshire Superior Courtroom in Pittsfield, Massachusetts , on Wednesday for his arraignment after Melissa Fares, 33, and Hilary Simon, 39, accused their trainer of abusing them after they have been college students at Miss Corridor's Faculty. The abuse allegedly occurred between 2000 and 2010. He pleaded not responsible.

The allegations embody claims Rutledge groomed and repeatedly abused college students, in line with statements launched by the Berkshire District Lawyer’s Workplace.

"For a very long time, I used to be residing inside trauma with out totally understanding it," Fares mentioned in an announcement shared by the Berkshire District Lawyer's Workplace. "It was during the last a number of years that I started piecing collectively the reality of what occurred to me: that Matt Rutledge had used me, abused me, and raped me. That I had been groomed and threatened into silence by a serial predator. That my youth wasn't my youth in any respect."

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Matthew Rutledge (pictured) was arraigned on Wednesday at Berkshire Superior Courtroom in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. (ABC Affiliate WCVB/Handout by way of Reuters)

Simon mentioned she was 15 years outdated when Rutledge first started "grooming" her, and that the abuse "continued for years" after she left campus.

"I fought this privately for 20 years," her assertion learn. "I've been combating it publicly for 2. Earlier than any of this, I used to be only a regular particular person. A lawyer. A spouse and a mom. A girl attempting to construct a life on high of one thing I had buried. After which Melissa Fares referred to as. I didn't know Melissa. I picked up the telephone, and I instructed her I had been ready for that decision for 20 years."

In response to NBC, citing a report ready for Miss Corridor’s Faculty, Rutledge allegedly referred to as out "Make manner for Mr. Great" as he moved by way of the hallways.

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Miss Corridor's Faculty, an unbiased school preparatory boarding and day college for ladies in grades 9 by way of 12, is situated in Massachusetts. (Google Maps)

Fares and Simon mentioned they found in 2024 that that they had related accounts of Rutledge’s alleged abuse and determined to pursue costs collectively.

Regardless of their allegations, the district lawyer's workplace on the time declined to maneuver ahead with the case, citing Massachusetts' age of consent regulation on the time, which allowed for an grownup to have intercourse with an individual over the age of 16, in line with the ladies.

The 2 ladies then pushed for laws to shut what they referred to as a "authorized loophole" and make it unlawful for a trainer to have intercourse with a scholar.

Rutledge is now charged below separate rape statutes. Prosecutors haven't publicly detailed what led to the choice to cost Rutledge.

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Two of Rutledge's college students tried to press costs in 2024, however the Massachusetts age of consent regulation prevented the district lawyer from continuing with the case, the ladies mentioned. (Getty Photos)

Rutledge was indicted by the District Lawyer's workplace final month.

Talking at a press convention following the arraignment, Fares claimed to reporters that Miss Hall's School was conscious of Rutledge’s alleged habits.

"Miss Corridor’s Faculty knew," she mentioned. "This complete college knew. They enabled a tradition of abuse for many years. They failed us, our households and each lady trusted them to guard her. They need to even be held accountable."

Miss Corridor’s Faculty mentioned in an announcement shared with Fox Information Digital that it's cooperating with authorities and acknowledged the impression on its group.

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"Wednesday’s arraignment was an necessary and painful second for our group," the varsity mentioned. "We are going to proceed to cooperate totally with authorities. We're sorry for the hurt that survivors have skilled and the impression on our group."

A pre-trial listening to is scheduled for June 18, in line with WCVB.

Fox Information Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

Brittany Miller is a Breaking Information Author for Fox Information Digital. Suggestions might be despatched to brittany.miller@fox.com and @BrittMillerFox on X.