LOS ANGELES — The children at Miramonte Elementary School never complained about their third-grade teacher. Not when he blindfolded them, not when he put tape over their mouths or even when he placed live cockroaches on their faces. He told them it was a game. Then he photographed them, creating images that would eventually lead to his arrest. Mark Berndt faced arraignment Wednesday on charges that he committed lewd acts on 23 boys and girls, ages 6 to 10, between 2008 and 2010. He has hired a lawyer and has made no statements to authorities, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore. The investigation began when a film processor found Berndt’s photos more than a year ago. Since the discovery, the school district fired Berndt and police put him under surveillance.
“If it wasn’t for the film processor, this could still be continuing today,” said sheriff’s Lt. Carlos Marquez. Berndt was arrested Monday at his home in Torrance and was being held on $2.3 million bail. Some parents picking up their pre-kindergarteners at the school on Tuesday complained that officials at the school in South Los Angeles should have notified them when the photos were found.
“My concern is why, if the principal knew this in advance, why didn’t he inform us?” said Gloria Polanco, the mother of a second- and a third-grader. “How long has he been doing this?” Several questions come to mind: How did he do this in the classroom without being caught? Why weren’t the parents immediately informed? Why did they have to find out via the media?
Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/31/2703835/ex-la-teacher-charged-with-molesting.html#storylink=cpy
Sadly EM, this teacher was NOT fired. He appealed the firing, and during the appeal process he was able to resign. That allowed him to get his roughly $4000/month pension. Can you imagine? Some people working full-time don’t make that kind of money! I think his pension should be forfeited under these circumstances.