Mark Berndt, California teacher accused of lewd conduct, scheduled to be arraigned today

(AP) LOS ANGLES - The former Los Angeles teacher charged with taking bondage-style photographs of his elementary school students is set to appear in court Tuesday.

Mark Berndt, 61, will be arraigned on charges of committing lewd acts against 23 children ages 6 to 10, from 2005 to 2010. 

Berndt, who has not yet entered a plea, has been behind bars since his arrest on Jan. 31 and is being held on $23 million bail.  He allegedly photographing blindfolded and bound students with semen-filled spoons held at their mouths and three-inch cockroaches crawling across their faces, among other bizarre images, reports CNN.

After Berndt's arrest, his colleague, third-grade teacher Martin Springer, 49, was also arrested and charged with three felony counts of committing lewd acts upon a child. Springer has pleaded not guilty.

According to CNN, Berndt and Springer's arrests prompted the school board to shutter Miramonte for two days, during which it reconstituted the entire staff.

Complete coverage of Miramonte Elementary School on Crimesider