Official: 2nd teacher pulled from Calif. school linked to bondage photos

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Mark Berndt

(Credit: AP Photo/ Los Angeles Sheriff's Department)

(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles officials say a second teacher was removed on Thursday from the school where third-grade teacher Mark Berndt is accused of photographing children for sexual thrills.

The second teacher was removed from contact with children at Miramonte Elementary School in the wake of unidentified accusations against him, Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore told CBS Los Angeles.

Although information was turned over to sheriff's investigators, the teacher hasn't been arrested. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy says that unlike the Berndt case, there are no photos or other physical evidence.

Berndt, who worked at the school for 30 years, was charged this week for committing lewd acts on 23 children, ages 6 to 10, between 2005 and 2010. He remains jailed on $23 million bail and could face life in prison if convicted.

Berndt is suspected of snapping nearly 400 photographs of Miramonte students, some with a giant Madagascar cockroach from a classroom terrarium on their faces.

Others were blindfolded or had clear tape over their mouths, and some were given sperm-laced cookies to eat as treats in the photo sessions that were treated like games, Scott said.

More on Crimesider:
February 1, 2012 - Judge sets bail at $23 million for elementary school teacher accused of lewd acts on children
January 31, 2012 - Bondage, abuse photos of school kids lead to firing, arrest of So. Calif. teacher, report says

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