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Salem teacher arrested in sting operation for attempting to meet 14-year-old girl, prosecutor says – Boston 25 News

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SALEM, Massachusetts – Authorities say a teacher at a Salem charter school was caught during an undercover operation Wednesday while attempting to meet with an underage girl for a sexual act.

Darren Benedick, 42, of Salem, is charged with one count of child enticement and one count of distribution of material harmful to minors. He was arraigned in Newburyport District Court.

According to Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, Benedick was employed as a physical education and health teacher at Salem Academy Charter School and had arranged to meet what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl in a “teens only” chat room.

The teenager was actually an undercover officer, and Benedick allegedly expressed a desire to meet the “teenager” in person and perform sexual acts with her. Charging documents say Benedick even sent the officer an obscene picture and detailed the sexual acts he wanted to perform on her.

The officer arranged a meeting for July 3, and Benedick was taken into custody upon his arrival for the encounter.

The court set his bail at $5,000, and he must also wear GPS monitoring, remain under house arrest, and have no contact with children.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Salem Academy Charter School said:

We have been informed by Salem Police that Salem Academy Health and Physical Education teacher Darren Benedick was arrested today by Newbury Police and charged with child enticement and distribution of harmful material. We have immediately placed him on administrative leave. We are in contact with police and will cooperate with their ongoing investigation. Authorities stated that they have not received any allegations that Salem Academy students were involved in the matter.

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