Bloomingdale High Teacher Arrested For Videotaping Students

VALRICO, FL -- A Bloomingdale High School teacher was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 12, and charged with video voyeurism after he admitted to placing two camera phones in a changing room to secretly record students getting undressed.

Fashion design teacher Mark Ackett, 49, of Plant City, told deputies he placed the two phones with cameras in an area of a classroom designated for students to get changed for a class assignment, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. A 17-year-old female student told investigators she found the cameras on Tuesday, Sept. 11, while she was getting changed. Both cameras were on at the time. The student got dressed and reported it to school administrators.

"The defendant admitted to the camera phones belonging to him and having placed the camera phones in the changing room for the purpose of secretly recording juvenile students disrobing," according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office arrest report.

Ackett was booked into the Hillsborough County jail early Wednesday, Sept. 12, and charged with video voyeurism as a school employee. He was released after posting $7,500 bail.

He has resigned as Bloomingdale High School's family consumer science teacher.

Principal Sue Burkett sent out a robo call alerting parents of Ackett's arrest.

Hillsborough County Schools spokeswoman Tanya Arja said Ackett has worked for the school district since 1991. He served as the assistant principal at Bloomingdale from 2006 to 2009 and later worked in the district’s central office as supervisor of attendance. He returned to Bloomingdale in 2017 where he was also the girls track coach there.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating to determine if there are more victims. Anyone with information is asked to call (813) 247-8200.

Image via Hillsborough Sheriff

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