Darren Benedick, a physical education and health teacher at Salem Academy Charter School, was arrested Wednesday in a sting operation, Massachusetts prosecutors saidProsecutors say 42-year-old Darren Benedick of Salem was arraigned Wednesday in Newburyport District Court on charges of child enticement and dissemination of matter harmful to minors.
Benedick, who teaches physical education and health at Salem Academy Charter School, was arrested Wednesday in a sting operation, according to the Essex County District Attorney's Office. He is accused of making plans to meet someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover officer with the Newbury Police Department. The officer was monitoring a"teens-only" chat room, prosecutors said.
A judge set Benedick's bail at $5,000 with conditions requiring GPS monitoring, home confinement and no contact with children, prosecutors said."We are in communication with the police, and will cooperate with their ongoing investigation," Executive Director Stephanie Callahan said in a statement."Authorities stated they have not received any allegations that Salem Academy students were involved.