Miramonte School Scandal: One Of Martin Springer's Accusers Recants Her Story

One student who accused teacher Martin Bernard Springer of inappropriate touching has recanted her story, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times. This news comes on the same day that the Los Angeles Unified School District Board voted unanimously to terminate him.

Law enforcement sources explained to the LA Times that charges filed against Springer on Tuesday involve only one alleged victim, and it's because the other girl has changed her story in the past few days.

Springer was arrested last Friday after two parents came forward to claim that he had fondled 7-and 8-year-old girls at Miramonte Elementary during the past three years. In court on Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty after being charged with committing lewd acts with one student in 2009. Judge Upinder Kalra set bail at $300,000 and directed that he wear an ankle monitoring device if released.

Springer is a veteran Miramonte teacher who began his career there in 1986. Within the Los Angeles Unified School District, he's only ever taught at Miramonte Elementary.

Springer was arrested four days after police arrested former Miramonte teacher Mark Berndt. Berndt was arrested after a year-long investigation into lewd acts he allegedly committed upon dozens of students. Key to the criminal investigation against Berndt is more than 600 photos that depict children bound, gagged, with cockroaches on their faces or about to eat a cookie that police say is covered with Berndt's semen. Investigators claim that they've linked Berndt's DNA to a spoon found in a classroom trash can; there are allegations that Berndt also spoon-fed his semen to children.

Meanwhile, a third teacher at Miramonte Elementary school has been implicated in the sex abuse scandal. Brian Claypool, a lawyer for families of alleged victims, claims that a female teacher helped Berndt in carrying out lewd acts. "They had adjoining classrooms, and he'd come in every other day in the middle of the day, and he'd go up to her and whisper in her ear. She'd start giggling and then pick out two pretty girls and walk them over to the door," Claypool told New York Daily News. Claypool's claims have not been confirmed or substantiated by investigators.

Watch NBC Los Angeles' video report on Brian Claypool's claims and read more here.

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.

UPDATE: This news story was updated to reflect an additional 200 photos belonging to Mark Berndt. The number of photos that investigators are examining in the case against Mark Berndt is now up to 600.

Comments

[greenygenie]

02:48 PM on 02/09/2012

This article is a mess.
There is a major headline buried in it (actually two), but constant referrals back to Berndt continue to confuse and obfuscate varying storylines.

The one I am most intrigued by is the story that one of the girls who accused Springer of fondling has recanted her story. A better and more concise presentation of that information (along with some interesting comments) is at the latimes: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/girl-who-accused-miramonte-teacher-of-abuse-recants-her-story.html

I used to teach, and though it unnerved me sometimes how much documentation we had to do regarding student and parental interactions, I now see the incredible importance of it. I wonder if this school or district has any such policy. The reason I say this, is that if a case relies on a child's testimony, but there is a ton of documentation on the child (or her parents) being constantly incendiary, then that is also evidence for the defense. Not all children are created equal, nor should all testimonies be held as truths.

[GoldwaterKid]

01:04 AM on 02/09/2012

Southern California schools are a mess, but give the situation a little more time to come out with real facts and details.

Thank you the rest of the country.

[prudence1]

12:18 AM on 02/09/2012

It's easier for the teacher to have aides that will get physical with the kids and threaten them into behaving. It's easier for the principal to maybe talk to a teacher about being careful, instead of writing a report. I don't know. I don't know how people like this think.

[prudence1]

12:17 AM on 02/09/2012

Most of the teachers at the school I work at are extremely hard-working and get relatively little pay and no acknowledgement from administration. Sometimes the level of ignored abuse is mind-boggling. I come home and tell my husband stories and he can't believe obvious wrongs are ignored. Maybe that will all change. Maybe this is the final, horrible incident that will change the LAUSD's "culture of silence." I certainly hope so. I once saw a class aide purposely trip an autistic boy (the kid was running so he fell hard). When I spoke up immediately to the teacher who was two feet away, she said "I didn't see it." I told the principal. She said I was mistaken.

[prudence1]

12:16 AM on 02/09/2012

I am so happy this story is getting so much attention. I've worked for four years at an L.A. elementary school - mostly Latino, mostly poor - and complaints from parents about teachers are routinely dismissed by the principal. There is no respect for these kids or their parents. There was actual physical abuse going on and it took an anonymous call to higher officials to get it investigated. (she was transferred with her an est. $70,000 pay in tact). When my kids went to an LAUSD elementary school (mostly white, upper to middle class), the principal and teacher were very AWARE of the parents' and students' view of what was happening in the school. If the parents didn't get justice or an honest weighing of their complaints, they called lawyers.

[caffeinedrone]

06:34 PM on 02/08/2012

Huff, I am just totally nauseated on Miramontes. I also read about some alledged love letters to an 9-10 year old from a teacher aid at said school. And now a third teacher?

Here is the linkhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=teacher&source=newssearch&cd=1&ved=0CDAQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FUS%2Flos-angeles-teacher-200-student-bondage-photos-police%2Fstory%3Fid%3D15540602&ctbm=nws&ei=6wUzT6CpHdS2tweFrvzZBg&usg=AFQjCNHkwDzb7W3I9f3ZXKpMt_2VHLeJSw&cad=rja

[caffeinedrone]

06:41 PM on 02/08/2012

Sorry here is the direct link to abc: http://abcnews.go.com/US/los-angeles-teacher-200-student-bondage-photos-police/story?id=15540602#.TzMG4siR29I

[John Sorger]

06:17 PM on 02/08/2012

It figures the only site on the entire internet trying to defend a child molester would be the Huffington Post. Can the left get any more evil and mentally ill?

[GeeBee]

08:26 PM on 02/08/2012

On which planet is Huffington Post "trying to defend a child molester"? Where does it say that? I think your accusing "the left" of being "evil and mentally ill" is something called "projection".

[fridakahlofan]

08:10 AM on 02/09/2012

How much are you gettng paid to post your false comment?
Pedophiles come in all shapes, sizes, and political affiliation.
As does ignorance and lying, look in the mirror if you want proof.

Gee, st u pid much???

[DAvid Arrollado]

10:24 PM on 02/08/2012

Try to redirect your anger towards the perps. And if that is not enough, volunteer at your local elementary or middle school as an aid, or member of the PTA, or school site council, or run for a position on the local school board. In other worlds, there are options for you to practice; if you truly are angry and want to change the situation.

[lotus321]

04:52 PM on 02/08/2012

She was probably intimidate or they threatened the parents with deportation.