LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles County Sheriff's department wanted to charge an elementary school teacher suspected of taking bizarre bondage-style photographs of children in 1994, but the case was rejected by prosecutors.
Authorities disclosed Thursday that a 10-year-old girl came forward in 1994, claiming that that teacher Mark Berndt reached toward her genitals during class, but she pushed his hand away.
Sheriff's Sgt. Dan Scott said the alleged incident occurred in September 1993 but wasn't reported by the girl's mother to officials at Miramonte Elementary School until the following January.
Scott said investigators recommended that prosecutors pursue a charge of committing a lewd act on a minor.
The district attorney's spokeswoman said in a prepared statement there was insufficient evidence to prove a crime had occurred.
Berndt denied the allegation at the time.
AP