Salem Teacher Accused Of Trying To Meet 14-Year-Old Girl For Sex

SALEM, MA — A Salem Academy Charter School gym and health teacher accused of attempting to meet a person purported to be a 14-year-old girl for sex was arraigned on a child enticement charge in Newburyport District Court.

The Essex County District Attorney's Office said that Darren Benedick, 42, was charged as part of a sting operation involving the monitoring of a "teens only" chat room. A Newbury police officer, posing as a 14-year-old girl, said conversations were had online with Benedick in which he expressed a desire to meet for sexual activities and sent an obscene image to the officer.

The Essex DA's office said Benedick was arrested when he arrived for a July 3 meeting with the person he presumably believed to be the teen girl.

Law enforcement officials said there have been no accusations of Benedick engaging in inappropriate conduct with students at the school but urged parents and guardians to engage their children in age-appropriate discussions about proper online and social media behavior and to encourage them to say something if they encounter inappropriate contact or conduct from an adult.

The Essex DA's Office said Benedick's bail was set at $50,000 with GPS monitoring, home confinement and a no-contact order with children ordered.