How many more alleged pedophiles are out there? Many more, I suspect, as every other day we are learning of new cases. Today, CNN reported that Bond was set at $23 million Wednesday for a Los Angeles elementary school teacher who allegedly took bondage photos of more than two dozen students in his classroom -- $1 million for each of the 23 counts he faces of lewd acts on a child.
The 400 photographs collected by investigators include some showing suspected semen-filled spoons at the children's mouths, a sheriff's investigator said.
Mark Berndt, 61, appeared briefly before a Los Angeles judge for his initial court appearance Wednesday morning, represented by a court-appointed public defender.
His next court appearance was set for February 21.
Authorities arrested Berndt at his home Monday, and charged him with the 23 felony counts.
"I feel for those parents and for those babies -- those helpless babies," Wanda Mosley, a resident who lives near Miramonte Elementary School, told CNN affiliate KABC.
Investigators, who interviewed more than 80 current and former students and school employees, identified 23 boys and girls then between the ages of 7 and 10 years old as alleged victims in crimes that are believed to have been committed between 2005 and 2010, it said.
The young students "didn't realize they were victimized," sheriff's Sgt. Dan Scott said.
"They thought they were being blindfolded and gagged as a game," he said. "And they were rewarded with cookies or spoons full of sugar (but) they did not realize the spoon contained semen."
The photographs also showed "a large 3-inch cockroach that would crawl on their face," Scott said.
Investigators, who interviewed more than 80 current and former students and school employees, identified 23 boys and girls then between the ages of 7 and 10 years old as alleged victims in crimes that are believed to have been committed between 2005 and 2010, it said.
The young students "didn't realize they were victimized," sheriff's Sgt. Dan Scott said.
"They thought they were being blindfolded and gagged as a game," he said. "And they were rewarded with cookies or spoons full of sugar (but) they did not realize the spoon contained semen."
The photographs also showed "a large 3-inch cockroach that would crawl on their face," Scott said.
Parents, professionals and citizens this is “NO” game. This is child abuse. It is now more important than ever to “TALK” to your children at a very early age (3 and older) about physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Tell you children to “TELL” you if they play a game that makes them feel uncomfortable in any way. Tell them that “THEIR BODY BELONGS TO THEM!” We must help our children before it is too late!
Contact me at www.drsueandyou.com
Dr. Sue
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