A Salem teacher will be arraigned on several charges next week in connection with an incident where he tried to plan a “sexual encounter” with a child, officials said.
Darren Benedick, 42, will be arraigned in Essex County Superior Court on Aug. 23 at 9:30 a.m., Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said in a statement.
Benedick is charged with enticement of a child under 16, distribution of obscene matter to a minor, possession of child pornography and three counts of distributing material of a child in a sexual act, Tucker said.
Benedick was arrested on July 3 and indicted on July 29 after an investigation revealed he made plans to meet a 14-year-old girl for a sexual encounter, Tucker said.
Authorities said Benedick was unaware he was talking to an undercover Newbury police officer who was monitoring a “teens-only” chat room, and not a teenage girl as he thought.
Benedick worked at Salem Academy Charter School as a gym and health teacher. Authorities say there are no allegations that the school’s students were subjected to Benedick’s suspected misconduct, Tucker added.
Benedick’s arrest was made by Newbury Police with help from Salem Police, Tucker said.
