Massachusetts teacher charged with child abuse after undercover investigation

A Massachusetts health and physical education teacher who worked at a public charter school was arrested Wednesday following an undercover investigation and charged with child seduction.

Darren Benedick, 42, of Salem, was arraigned in Newburyport District Court on Wednesday afternoon. He is accused of child enticement and distribution of material harmful to minors.

The Essex County District Attorney’s Office said Benedick was arrested during an undercover operation in which he allegedly planned to meet with an underage girl for a sexual act.

Authorities said the person he was communicating with online was not a 14-year-old girl, but an undercover Newbury police officer who was monitoring a chat room “for teens only.”

Benedick is employed at Salem Academy Charter School.

“We have immediately placed him on leave. We are in contact with the police and will cooperate with their ongoing investigation,” the school said in a written statement.

Prosecutors said Benedick is accused of having online conversations with the undercover officer and expressing a desire to meet in person and engage in sexual acts. Authorities said Benedick sent the officer an obscene picture and described the acts he wanted to perform.

Authorities said there were no allegations that Benedick had sexually assaulted any student at the school.

Bail was set at $5,000. Benedick was ordered to have no contact with children.