HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A former Hillsborough County teacher is facing more charges of video voyeurism, production of harmful material of a minor and possession of child pornography on Monday.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 11, a student entered a designated fitting/changing room within a fashion design classroom to try on clothing.
While changing into various outfits, the victim noticed an electronic recording device set up to secretly record the same area where she was undressing.
According to the sheriff’s office, during the initial investigation, Ackett’s cellphones were seized and a search warrant was obtained and served on the devices.
An analysis of the phones revealed 267 videos and images of girls ranging from 14 to 18-years-old in various stages of undress.
Ackett was charged with an additional 267 counts of video voyeurism, 73 counts of production of harmful material of a minor and 13 counts of possession of child pornography.
Ackett turned himself in to the sheriff’s office and was taken into custody without incident.
According to a search warrant obtained by News Channel 8, “During a post Miranda interview with Mark Ackett, he admitted to owning the cellular phones described in the warrant, placing them in the changing room of his classroom and having done so to secretly record his students disrobing since 2017.”
Parents are disgusted and outraged.
One mom believes her daughter may have been recorded by Ackett.
Ackett no longer works at the school. The school district says he resigned.
Ackett started his employment with the school district in 1991. He worked in the school district’s central office before he became a teacher at Bloomingdale High School in January of 2017.
“And, I’m like, WHAT? What’s the teacher’s name again? Then, when I heard his name, I started to shake,” said Maria Penalver.
A co-worker told her about Ackett’s arrest.
“I’m like, ‘Oh my God, that’s my daughter’s teacher.’ Like I gotta go right now!”
Penalver said she’s beyond angry.
She remembered her daughter coming home from school, saying a teacher named Mark Ackett was encouraging her to change clothes in fashion design class.
“It actually brought me to the school and I was actually questioning home schooling because I feel like my kid is not safe,” said Penalver.
“Very disappointed because we won’t expect someone we trust in our school to do something like that.”
Ackett no longer works at the school. The school district says he resigned.
Ackett started his employment with the school district in 1991. He worked in the school district’s central office before he became a teacher at Bloomingdale High School in January of 2017.
