Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
A high school teacher and volleyball coach at Bloomingdale High School in Tampa, Florida has been arrested on 353 new charges relating to cell phones found in the school’s girls’ locker rooms.
50-year old Mark William Ackett was originally arrested on September 11th on one charge of video voyeurism.
His initial arrest came after a 17-year old student found 2 cell phones hidden in the locker room, which was recording when it was found, and investigators have since found more devices. The Tampa Bay Times has reported that he confessed to investigators that he began recording students in January 2017 when he began teaching and coaching girls’ volleyball. He resigned after the cameras were discovered and turned himself in to face the new charges on Monday.
According to a press release by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, his 353 new charges are:
- 267 counts of Video Voyeurism
- 73 counts of production of harmful material of a minor
- 13 counts of possession of child pornography
They come after analysis on the devices found uncovered ‘267 videos and images of girls ranging from 14 to 18 years old, in various stages of undress.’
Ackett’s bail was set at $2 million, and he was released on Wednesday after posting $250,000 bond.
Video Voyeurism is a 2nd-or-3rd degree felony in Florida, depending on the age of the perpetrator and the age of the victim; production of harmful material of a minor is a 3rd-degree felony, and possession of child pornography is a third-degree felony. 3rd degree felonies in Florida are punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each charge, while 2nd degree felonies are punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
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