Mark Berndt
As previously reported on this site, the Los Angeles Unified School District last year was hit with one of the most shocking child sexual abuse cases in memory in 2012. This involved an elementary school teacher, Mark Berndt, who was accused of feeding his pupils cookies laced with his own semen while they were blindfolded in class.
http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-has-happened-to-my-school-district.html
This week, Berndt entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was given credit for two years in which he has been in custody.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Miramonte-School-Teacher-Child-Sex-Abuse-Scandal-Mark-Berndt-232053491.html
Aside from the shocking nature of this crime and the fact that the school district knew for years that he was engaged in questionable conduct with the children, another disgusting aspect was added to this sordid story by Berndt's defense attorney, Manny Medrano, in his statement to the press after the court hearing. Medrano insisted his client was not a monster, was not evil and there was no evidence that he had ever sexually touched the children. He was remorseful. The sentence of 25 years was excessive, said Medrano.
It was almost as disgusting as what his client did to those kids. I listened to his entire statement on the John and Ken radio show and am trying to pull it up.
Did they fire him? In most places they can't, even after being sent to prison.
ReplyDeleteIt took years and only after he was charged did they get him to resign.
ReplyDeleteThe lawyer was doing his job -- representing his client.
ReplyDeleteThen the judge did his job -- imposing sentence.
That's the way our justice system works.
The fact that the lawyer had darn little to work with, and it shows, is nothing to be moaning and groaning about.