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Lawyer: Accused Miramonte "Tasting Game" Teacher "unjustly suffering behind bars"
Photo of Mark Berndt courtesy of L.A. Sheriff's Department
Is this the case of an accused man's attorney calling the "waaaaaambulance" or a legit gripe? The lawyer representing ousted Miramonte Elementary School teacher Mark Berndt says "his client is unjustly suffering behind bars," according to CBS2.Victor Acevado spoke with a reporter from CBS 2's radio sister-station, KNX 1070, and said that his client--who allegedly sexually abused young students in the classroom, including engaging them in a blindfolded "tasting game" involving his own semen--is not getting the ol' innocent until proven guilty treatment.
Evidence the system is being unfair to Berndt, says his lawyer, is the space in which he's housed in jail:
“My understanding is that the cell he’s in is very small, it’s like a 9 (foot)-by-3 (foot),” said Acevedo. “He hasn’t been convicted of anything and yet you would think he serving time for a sentence that he was convicted for and is being punished for.”
Berndt is awaiting his next court appearance in relation to the 23 counts of committing a lewd act on a child to which he pleaded not guilty in April. It's expected Berndt's trial will not get underway until January of 2013.
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