Police: Former Teacher Blindfolded, Photographed 23 Students
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that a former Miramonte Elementary School teacher bound and gagged 23 students between the ages of 7 and 10, put cockroaches on some of their faces and posed in photos with them.
Police arrested Mark Berndt Jan. 30, the Associated Press reports. An investigation into Berndt was launched after a film processor gave authorities approximately 40 photographs showing blindfolded children in a classroom.
Some of the photos showed girls with a spoon up to their mouths. A spoon found in a trash can in Berndt’s classroom tested positive for semen.
Related Articles:
- Child Sexual Abuse: It’s More Prevalent Than You Think
- Steps You Can Take to Prevent Child Sex Abuse After an Employee or Volunteer Has Been Hired
- Vetting Campus Staff & Volunteers Who Work With Children
- Haste Can Compromise Investigations
- How to Start a Youth Intervention Program
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!