Education

Second teacher arrested at L.A. school for 'lewd acts' against pupils

Posted: Feb 3, 2012 3:58 PM by Michael Martinez and Stella Chan, CNN

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Another teacher has been arrested at Los Angeles Miramonte Elementary School on an allegations of lewd acts on young pupils, authorities said Friday.

Capt. Mike Parker with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said that Friday's arrest is "quite different" from the arrest earlier this week of another teacher, Mark Berndt. Berndt, 61, was accused of taking bondage photos of more than two dozen students in his classroom, some showing suspected semen-filled spoons at the children's mouths, authorities said.

Special victims bureau investigators arrested the second teacher, Martin Bernard Springer, on Friday, according to a statement read by Parker. His arrest came after investigators received "new information" on Thursday morning that led them to Springer.

Authorities say that the allegations involved two young girls "who were allegedly fondled in the classroom" by the suspect, Parker said.

Springer's bail has been set at $2 million, according to Parker.

Los Angeles County prosecutors are reviewing whether to file charges against Springer, a spokeswoman said Friday. "We'll see have to see how far the evidence goes in the latest arrest," spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons told reporters.