Charges dropped against former Brockton choral director after alleged victim declines to testify

Charges against a Brockton choral director who allegedly paid an underage boy for sex were dropped Wednesday after the victim decided not to testify, court records show.

Matthew Cunningham, a choral director at Brockton High School, was arrested in August 2025 and charged with one count of trafficking a person for sexual servitude and one count of sexual conduct for a fee. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was ordered held on $25,000 bail.

Cunningham was arrested after a monthslong investigation by Brockton police and State Police. Authorities alleged that on April 27, 2025, he met up with an underage male, performed a sexual act on him, and later paid him on an app.

App administrators flagged the transaction because it was between an adult and a minor, prosecutors said. They contacted the FBI, which then contacted Brockton police.

Cunningham allegedly met the victim, a Brockton High School student, on the dating app Grindr and asked if he would perform paid sexual acts. The choral director’s defense attorney said he was unaware that the victim was underage or a student at Brockton High.

Brockton Public Schools placed Cunningham on paid administrative leave when they learned of his arrest. A district spokesperson confirmed Thursday that he is no longer employed there.

Prosecutors dropped the trafficking charge on Nov. 6, 2025 at the Commonwealth’s request, court records show. On Wednesday, they dismissed the remaining charge because the alleged victim invoked the Fifth Amendment, resulting in a “lack of prosecution.”

Cunningham spent more than a decade as choral director at Brockton High. He also taught piano classes, was involved in musical productions, and worked as a guest conductor elsewhere.

Joseph Krowski Jr., Cunningham’s attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.

Want to leave a comment?

Create an Account Or sign in to your account

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

To comment, please verify your email address

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com