E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Martin Springer, 49, is seen in this image provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
A Los Angeles teacher accused of committing lewd acts on a child was freed on $300,000 bond early Friday, authorities said.
In a statement sent to NBC News, Captain Mike Parker of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Martin Bernard Springer, 49, a teacher at Miramonte Elementary School, was expected to leave the jail facility "soon" after being formally released from custody at 2 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET).
"He was fitted with a court-ordered ankle monitoring device before his release," Parker's statement added.
The Miramonte Elementary School in Los Angeles reopened Thursday with an entirely new staff after two teachers, who have since been arrested, were accused of lewd acts involving children. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
On Thursday, the sheriff's department's website mistakenly reported that Springer had been released just before 7 p.m. local time Thursday (10 p.m. ET), NBC News reported.
Springer is charged with three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14.
Miramonte Elementary School in Los Angeles, Calif., has replaced its entire staff after two teachers were charged with lewd conduct aimed at their own students. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
He was the second teacher at Miramonte to be arrested.
Mark Berndt, 61, was arrested and charged with committing lewd acts against 23 students.
Students, parents protest as troubled school reopens
On Thursday, Miramonte reopened with a new teaching staff.
About 100 protesters who opposed the removal of the entire staff for the rest of the school year demonstrated outside, with signs saying "Give us our teachers back" and "LAUSD Shame on You."
NBC News contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
hey at least he didnt kill anybody right?? now he's able to molest more kids at your expense...
He's been charged, not convicted of a crime as of yet. Everyone is entitled to bail under the law, even people accused of murder. However, he was probably safer in prison than on the streets of LA since his name and photo has been released on TV, the papers and the internet.
He's not as free on bail as he would like to think he is, and he just may have signed his own death certificate by posting bail.
He wouldn't be that safe in jail either. Older men in jail are assumed to be child molesters and inmates attack child molesters regularly.
Don't know if he was "safer" in prison as a child molester. Supposedly child molesters are considered the scum of the earth in prison and are treated unkindly (which is fine by me). Being freed he'll be able to hide out until his trial. Good thing he'll be monitored with his ankle bracelet so he won't be able to flee to a country that is lenient to pedophiles.
Innocent until proven guilty, but let's hope they keep track of the guy. LogicReguired -- It's my understanding that some jails have special sections for child molesters to keep them isolated from less sympathetic inmates. As far as I'm concerned, throw them in with the general population and be done with it.
I kinda prefer that he post bail so the family members of the kids can have a "discussion" with him.
Hey all you L.A. fathers.This piece of sh!t does'nt have a jailor to protect hiss azz. Do the world a favor!!
Indeed, most jails have sections for Child Molester's, Wife Beater's, and Snitches. All are considered the absolute bottom rung of inmates, and are tormented as often as the other inmates can get a hold of them. At least the prison's can make up for the leniency of the judicial system.
The school from HELL !!!
I still say...
1 - Trial
If found Guilty..
1 - Appeal
If still found Guilty..
1 - Gun
1 - Bullet.
I think the majority of Americans have had it with this kind of behavior...... and we are fed up with paying for their life in prison...
You people make me laugh. Your the first to throw stones in a glass house. You all act like your so upright with out a sin in your life, when you've done far worse but just weren't caught doing it. You think your not going to be judged for your actions? then you don't believe in God. If, and i say IF, this man has done what he is accused of, then so be the punishment. But if he hasn't, then may all of you reap the karma of false accusations. You all should pray that you never go through the justice system as it nothing more than a joke at best and hell at it's worst. Fot the jokers who state how it works in prison, well you only know that because you've been there and we would all like to hear what you did to get there. So, next time think before you post a judgemental comment.
Crap, did you read the article about this guy last week? the police found pictures, videos, physical evidence including the spoon he used to do these acts with.
Laugh away, horsecrap. 1. Nope, I've never done anything that qualifies as "far worse." 2. I know what goes on in prisons because I worked in one for five years--as a nurse. Our justice system may be flawed, but it is still the best in the world. Pedophiles do not have a good record for rehab....Just the way it is. It isn't a judgement. It is a fact. Better to be judgmental toward sex offenders than stupid and naive, don't you think? One person's bad acts does not erase the culpability of another person's bad acts. Both need to be brought to justice. BTW....He video taped his disgusting behavior. Kind of hard to blame that on karma.
Colorblind -
Sex Offenders have the lowest rates of residence and lowest rate of committing another crime not sex related than any other type of criminal. Better check your facts before posting you know what they are.
dont worry guys, the unions got his back, he'll just get a teaching job in another state, no prob
I've always been told that the main reason that we HAVE to have the unions is to assure us of getting only the best. Man am I glad we had them and the government in there protectin' those poor kids. Why can't you imagine how much worse it would have been had we not? Just like Obama. It's not about the epic fail. We're supposed to believe that they don't all suck because they want us to imagine a group that sucks worse. That works except that we've all run out of imagination!
Hey it is afterall CALIFORNIA. Did ya really expect anything different from this ultra liberal state?
Ummmm, Sandusky is also out on bail. I could make a long, long list of people out on bail who have committed unpleasant acts. We do live in a free nation where we are presumed innocent until proven guilty, as the police (and this is true in California--which is not nearly as universally liberal as you think) often will arrest people they just don't like when they have an excuse.
As we see here, this guy is presumed guilty now by you and everyone--and I'll bet you think this is the guy caught with the bondage pictures of children (no, it isn't--that's Mark Berndt). This is the guy accused of "fondling" by two parents, and one accuser has already recanted the story.
I don't know if he is guilty or innocent--but he has just as much right to be presumed innocent as anyone else. Given the fact that the parents might well see dollar signs in front of their eyes because of the charges against Berndt, it's not unlikely that everyone is now seeing sexual misconduct in every shoulder pat.
If he's guilty, I hope he is put away permanently--but this guy could well be innocent. Many teachers are "accused" of such things by miffed parents and miffed students--just as you might be accused of something by a miffed ex-wife or miffed neighbor. An accusation doesn't make a person guilty. This is a case in which the guy's name should have been withheld until better evidence was found--all there is right now is a partially recanted accusation, and that's not a lot.
bean..."Unpleasant acts" has to be the understatement of the century....
At least you have used the term correctly - an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. That presumption is pointed at our judicial system to ensure that all evidence and testimony is reviewed fairly.
That presumption does not apply to the general public. It is more than mere accusation...He was arrested and posted bail. The public has a right to know.
The ONLY consolation in this is that he is fitted with an ankle bracelet.....not that, that would deter a pedophile, by any means. They do what they do, and they will continue to do what they do, and that is to VIOLATE CHILDREN. It actually may have been 'safer' for the alleged sex offender to stay in jail. Not telling what he will encounter, since his release from jail. As far as I'm concerned, he should STAY IN JAIL.
We have the right idea here in Pennsyltucky, we release them on bail with no monitoring.
Innocent until proven guilty is legally the case. Public opinion is not bound by it. According to the law, OJ Simpson is innocent of murder. Very few believe that to be the case. Most, as do I, think that he could afford a great legal team and had incompetent prosecutors. Not counting the lead who missed the trial because of a heart attack just before.
This guy may be innocent. I doubt it. We'll see what the legal system says. I don't have great confidence in it one way or the other. It's conclusions don't dictate what I believe to be true. One small mistake procedurally and you're "innocent" no matter how obvious that you're not.
Well said, Rick. Accurate to a tee.
@Rick
It is actually a presumption of innocence...that presumption is meant for the judicial system to assure a fair trial.
As for your statement of 'innocence' regarding OJ. The jury found him 'not guilty'...which does not mean he is innocent. If he were 'innocent', a jury in a civil trial would not have awarded his wife's family a great deal of money for her wrongful death.
Consider he worked as the great teacher they all say he is for 26 years. Not a single complaint. Yet you insist that he is habitual Pedophile..?...His bail has been dropped from 2 million to 300,000. The reason is one of the girls admitted lying about Mr. Springer. One left who thinks she was touched when she was 7 years old......in first grade....How weak this case is. I contend the remaining accuser is lying to please her parents. Money, lots of money from these cases. This man in completely innocent. He is the victim. The POLICE and DAs office should have done at least a competent investigation before PUBLICALLY HANGING Mr. Springer out to dry. They will probably do anything to frame him for this imaginary touching 4 years ago. They need to save their jobs. I say we should get the Justice Department involved to monitor the DA and POLICE.
Right on the money Bob. Supposedly he fondled this girl 4 years ago and he is a big time pedophile? What did he do to satisfy his urge the other 26 years he worked there? Where is all the evidence from his computer and home that substantiates his pedophilia. Don't they usually have pictures, pornography, something to point to that conclusion. Is there even one other complaint against this teacher, is there one shred of evidence against him, someone to corroborate the little girls story? There is a hugh outcry to hang this guy when there should an outcry to insure that he is not wrongly prosecuted.
Dying to know who posted his bail & why???
Teacher's Union probably!
Why..? because anyone who knows the facts knows he is innocent. That's why.
ONE student has accused this teacher, a second student already recanted. This was at the same school as the man who molested 23 children. Maybe a little hysteria going on here. Maybe we should take a step back about destroying this second teacher's life until there is more information. Ever read Arthur Miller's The Crucible?
That's it exactly, it's all the fault of Jewish Rye bread.
I believe they have pictures that were in his possesion. More than enough for me.
Yep Melba,
A pic is worth a thousand words!!
Well said Linda Brown. Cooler heads need to prevail until the investigation is complete. This man just may be innocent, he has had over 20 years at this school. Kinda fishy that overnight he becomes a pedophile.
Melba that was the other guy, the one with 30 counts against him.
maybe he will go eat a bullet from a 9mm and save the California taxpayers alot of money. I would say only in California, but after what the Mississippi Gov did I will not.
About 100 protesters who opposed the removal of the entire staff for the rest of the school year demonstrated outside, with signs saying "Give us our teachers back" and "LAUSD Shame on You."
I don't understand these people want the teaching staff back that neglected to monitor these horrible teacher(s) and the article yesterday showed protesters with signs written in Spanish something just not right
plstop,
My guess, the "100 protesters" are fellow teachers or other union employees.
plstop, MRZ, are your neighbors child abusers? How do you know if they are or aren't? Maybe they haven't been caught yet, right? So to blame other teachers, or unions for this is pure manure, and both of you know it.
Neither one of the two so called molesters have had their day in court. Until a jury finds them guilty, they remain accused of a horrible crime. I have no doubt that one of them maybe guilty, the other, one kid already recanted his story, leaves one left with a story.
If either is found guilty, have them dig their own graves in a landfill, shoot them and cover them up. Problem solved once and for all with the guilty molestors, no repeat offenders.
Changing teachers mid school year is very hard on small children. If my childs teacher had done nothing wrong, I would object too!
plstop -- It's not a teacher's job to "monitor" other teachers. If, however, one should notice any kind of horrible situation like this, he/she must immediately report it (ditto for child abuse by a parent). It's up to the administration to "monitor" what's going on in the school. Schools should have rules that teachers and other adults are not to be alone with a student where they cannot be easily seen by other personnel. When school's out, administrators should go around the school to make sure there are no stragglers. If teachers want to stay after to do some work, administrators should make sure no students are present. I don't know if all this could have been prevented, but the fact that it went on for so long is unconscionable.
The majority of the school is illegal aliens kids...they don't want an investigation cause they and thier kids will be deported for scamming off our free schooling. Better to have little Julie or Bobby endure some sexual abuse than go back to Mexico.
Right on!
Come on plstop, think about what you just said. Before this incident did anyone one know they were horrible people or even suspect they were. What is a Principal supposed to do? Oh, today I will suspect Ms. Jones of being a horrible person so I will spend 6 hours in her class, instead of doing my job, and I'm sure that if Ms Jones is a horrible person she will commit horrible acts of mis-behavior in front of me so I can do my job and fire here. In fact today I will get Ms Smith to sit in on Mr Black and Ms Smith's kids can be watched by my secretary who doesn't have anything to do either. plstop you didn't think this through. No one allowed this to happen through malfeasance, or at least you have no evidence to that.
Are you responsible for the action of your co-workers or even know what they are doing in their off time? A very silly post on your part
Out on bail? He should be locked up and they should throw away the key. Then they should put him in with the general public and let those guys take care of his sick perverted azz......
Anyone on here ever heard of innocent until proven guilty? Not saying I would want this guy near any children, but he is only accused at this point and deserves a fair investigation and trial before we string him up.
Exactly what I was thinking. It's reprehensible when adults molest children but too often people are ready to hang someone who has been accused but not found guilty yet. Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? I'm sure I'm going to be slammed for my post but I thought that was the way our judicial system worked.
innocent until proven guilty...is merely a presumption.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Presumption+of+Innocence
It's ok, he had to use his last pension check to make bail...
Lesson one of the american justice system, if you're poor, you're screwed.
Oh come on, we all know that OJ really was innocent...
And MJ too... ;P
So the statistics are lying. OK. Keep thinking that, buddy.
Freakz--
Everyone knows that statistics never lie. Did you know that, statistically, the average person in America has one testicle and one ovary? Gotta love statistics.
Even if this guy is innocent, his career is over forever. Think any school would hire him after this, even if it turns out he is completely innocent?
I'm not saying one way or the other about his guilt. I don't know the facts of the case. All I'm saying is his goose is cooked either way. The fact of just being accused will follow him the rest of his life, innocent or not.
Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. That's for a court to decide.
okeeyboy,
Rest assured, if he is found not guilty, the teachers association will be by his side to either get him reinstated or help in his future civil suite(s) against the city/any one else they can file suite(s) against.
MRZ -- Don't count on it. Okeeboy is right, he'll never get a teaching job again, guilty or not. Any vigilant school board will thoroughly check out its applicants; and even if his record were wiped clean, you can find the "dirt" somewhere on the internet.
Actually, a convicted pedophile got another teaching job after his release from prison. It is easier than you think.
Newsvine really needs to add a "sarcasim" tool to the tool bar.
Another guy that Obama will pardon after a hefty payoff-That folks is the Chicago Way Obama is so proud of and has Forced on Us the last 3 years. How do you think he got all that money for his reelection. Or As He Calls It My Corination.
Your post has nothing to do with the Discussion Forum. Did you say the same thing when EVERY other President, at the end of their term, pardons people? Didn't think so. Another typical right-wing nut job. By the way...I am also a Vet (USMC, '73 - '77) but I don't care to impress folks with it. I got paid to do a job and that was that. Obama 2012!
Thank you both for your service. (Con Thien 1968) US Medic.
That's right, because teachers have so much money to pay-off sitting presidents for pardons...
And maybe people might take you more seriously if you learned how to spell and elicit proper grammar. But I suppose for every new story on here you find a way to inject Obama into the discussion so logic is probably not your strong suit.
For a vet from a vet, I'm ashamed of you.
A Vet Here, well from a combat wounded vet your'e a disgrace to the military.
Its a witch hunt. The first teacher hasn't teached at the school in over a year. The 2nd teacher sounds like he maybe innocent and its just low income parents trying to cash in. If the 2nd teacher is found innocent I hope he sues the parents. His life is destroyed because of this fiasco.
If he is innocent, and wants to sue the parents, he will probably have to go to Mexico.
Giving the rest of the teaching staff a paid vacation for the rest of the year? School teachers union must love this! But exactly how does it make sense?
Retired: Previous articles said that the teachers weren't given a "paid vacation for the rest of the year." They were transferred to other schools.
Wrong, the are being sequestered at a school that hasn't opened yet.
Maybe if hes not a teacher anymore he wont molest children, unless if he became addicted to it. More than likely hes never thought of doing such a thing until it came to his attention that he has the power to do so. Now he doesnt have the power to do so.
Even after saying that i dont think he should have been allowed out of prison...and if he did do these things his balls should be cut off.
Maybe he hasn't been convicted yet, maybe you don't keep people in jail while they are innocent until proven guilty. Just like you said mechanical, "if he did", well until that is proven he is innocent.
J-Strapp and Jerry Sandusky is free on bail twice and he is from where? Don't think it's the west coast there buddy.
All of the parents here have done nothing but complain, complain, complain. If the school did nothing they bitch. If the school does something they bitch. And as one other poster noted... this particular teacher had two accusers, one of which has recanted her story.
He will be saved by the Union (they don't care from whom the money comes from, as long as they get it) and of course the Obama Administration (he needs all of the Union voters that he can get)!!!!!!!
I just did a little checking and this paid vacation is going to cost the taxpayers over $250,000.00 a week. How does the school board justify this unless they are getting kick backs from the Teachers Union? Property taxes are the mainstay of school teachers salaries. Around here we have a saying you never really own your home, you just rent it from the school board! School boards nationwide need to be reigned in. They seem to think that property owners are a bottomless reserve of cash that will never run dry. Property taxes in this area have gone up every year for the last ten years as a result.
they should not have gone up if the value falls as it should have done in the last four years.
I don't know if he did anything or not. But it's innocent until proven guilty. But if he did it. KILL HIM. But I don't want to judge him in the press.
Hopefully the unions can succesfully fight so he can keep his pension. He only hurt children, and well children arent the unions responsibility.
I assume this is sarcasm....
Unfortunately, only the first half. 2nd part is 100% true and this guy may actually keep his pension, disgusting.
i love the union bashing !!!!everything is their fault...like your 8 hour work day,safe working conditions,pension,healthcare,and oh yeah a decent days wage.if it wasnt for unions,you would be too busy working 18 hours a day for minimum wage to post crap.
it isnt 1950 anymore, in the present day, if it werent for unions municipalities wouldnt be going bankrupt all over the country.
Past is past, today is the present. Keep living in the ancient dream world that unions are necessary until you realize there is no money left in your state and your house is worthless.
if it wasnt for unions,all the jobs (that aren't gone overseas)would be minimum wage.
Why do none of you think about the children...the child that recanted probably did so out of fear or stress or whatever...but all you smart people just sit back and watch...there will be more children that tell when the right situation is presented to them ....these are elementary students....just babies actually...there are pedofiles on every corner in every walk of life ....wake up....you know what,bet that you even know one..not knowingly of course but I bet you know one anyway....yes, I agree with getting all the teachers out of that school ...take whatever time that is needed to investigate every single one of them....don't think it possible for such horror and no other adults to be aware of it. Albert Einstein made a very strong statement many years ago that still holds true...it is "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing". Little children don't have the knowledge of sexual acts until they are introduced to them....so how do they tell stories that are untrue...their imagination has nothing to base sex acts on unless they have experienced them first hand...And if it turns out that only 1 or 2 of the teachers were participants then it was worth the effort to do the school house cleaning...in the end it is all to protect our children...can't you see that?
Tell me something B Thomas- if you were a teacher there and had no idea of what was going on how would you feel about losing your job? This action has applied a stigma to quite a few innocent people. Children know more than you realize and they also know how to play that knowledge. I don't know who is innocent and who may be guilty but I sure would want to know before doing anything remotely seeming like an accusation. Let the courts judge here and God will do His part in His time, but I want no part of it.
Curt,
Previous articles indicate the Miramonte teachers did not lose their jobs, they have been reassigned. The decision to clean house has traumatized children who have little control, but it may have been necessary to prevent a "witch hunt" from occurring, sweeping good, innocent teachers into a guilt by association situation. I'm not a fan of teachers' unions or tenure, but in this case protecting someone's teaching reputation, and good name seems appropriate.
Where do you suppose the $300,000.00 bail bond came from?
kid porn...
Ankle bracelet? At least they will know where he is when molesting the next child.
If he's smart, he'll just stay inside his house until his trial, at which time the justice system has to kick in. Whether we like it or not, that's the way it is.
WOW
here we go
who can put up 300000 dollars for this
one of his pedifile buddies?
doesnt sound right to me
something is evil here
Guessing it had to be the Teachers Union....they seem to always want to protect the worst ones.
Oh, sure! Blame the "evil" unions! It isn't hard to tell what side your bread's buttered on. And you dare to use that handle, "Thinker?!" Seriously?!
Thats not how a bail bond works. A $300,000 bond costs the defendant $30,000 in cash and they put up the deed to their house as collateral. They don't put up $300,000 in cash.