Shocker!! -- LAUSD Teacher Has History of Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

Fox 11 News reporter Gigi Graciette has confirmed this is not the first time elementary school teacher Mark Berndt was investigated for a charge of sexual misconduct.

In January 1994, a complaint to LAUSD was filed against Berndt, investigated by the LA County Sheriff's Deparment and presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. The DA's office then rejected the case.

Watch Gigi Graciette's exclusive video report, followed by Fox Legal Analyst Robin Sax and her take on this latest turn of events.

Detectives with LA County Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau arrested 61-year-old Mark Berndt, a teacher with more than 30 years experience at Miramonte Elementary School, after conducting a year long sex crimes investigation.

Berndt was in court Wednesday, charged with child molestation after the discovery of graphic pictures involving children. Mark Berndt is due back in court on February 21st to face formal charges in this case.

The investigation began when more than 40 photographs depicting, mainly female children in a school classroom, with their eyes blindfolded and their mouths taped were turned into law enforcement by a film processor. Film processors are mandated to report suspected child abuse under California law (11166 P.C.).

The suspect, Mark Berndt, was seen in some photographs with his arm around the children or with his hand over their mouth. In addition, the photographs depicted girls with what appeared to be a blue plastic spoon filled with an unknown clear/white liquid substance up to their mouths as if they were going to swallow the substance.

The kids reportedly told police their teacher said it was a game and the substance was "sugar."

Detectives recovered a blue plastic spoon and an empty container from the trash within the suspect's classroom. The recovered items tested positive for semen and the suspect's DNA matched that of the semen profile found on the spoon and packaging.

In some photographs female children are seen consuming a cookie with the same liquid substance. There were also children with large live Madagascar type cockroaches on their face and mouths.

A search warrant on the suspect's house in Torrance led to the discovery of over 100 photographs. A DVD depicting sexual "Bondage" activity which mirrored the bondage depicted in the photographs with the children.

An additional 250 photographs were later recovered from the film processing establishment.

Los Angeles Unified School District removed Berndt from teaching on January 7, 2011 and later terminated him in March.

Berndt is facing 23 felony counts of "Lewd and Lascivious acts with a Child Under 14" and if convicted could face life in prison. Bail has been set at $23,000,000.00 - breaking down to one million dollars per victim.

Gigi Graciette who broke this story was live in South LA and has the latest in this FOX 11 News video report.

Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau investigators are seeking the help of the public to identify possible additional victims during the suspect’s tenure at Miramonte Elementary School. Detectives can be contacted at (877) 710-5273 (LASD) or via email at specialvictims@lasd.org. If you wish to remain anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477)… you can also text the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or go to lacrimestoppers.org.

Source: myFOXla.com