A once-respected former teacher accused of committing lewd acts on children in what he called "tasting games" pleaded no contest Friday to all the charges against him. Mark Berndt, 62, entered the legal equivalent of guilty pleas to 23 charges at a hearing Friday. The plea agreement calls for the former Miramonte Elementary School teacher to be sentenced to 25 years in prison.
John Manly, an attorney who represents 30 of Berndt's students and their parents, said Thursday that he was notified of the plea by prosecutors, who urged a deal because "they were concerned about re-traumatizing the children at trial." He called the agreement a victory for his clients.
"He's going to jail essentially for the rest of his life," Manly said. "You can't ask for more than that." The district attorney's office and Berndt's lawyer declined to comment in advance of the court hearing. Berndt admitted that he blindfolded students while spoon-feeding them semen-laced cookies and sometimes put huge cockroaches on them.
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