Jury selection continues in sexual assault trial of former Gilman School teacher

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Jury selection in the trial of a former Gilman School teacher accused of sexually abusing an underage student continued Thursday.

Christopher Bendann is accused of multiple counts of sexual exploitation of minors, possession of child pornography and cyberstalking while working at the private boys' school in North Baltimore.

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Bendann refused to appear at the start of his trial on Wednesday.

The judge ordered the U.S. Marshals to take him to court, where his attorney filed a competency challenge.

The judge found Bendann to be “razor-sharp” and allowed the trial to begin.

This is one of the rare cases of child pornography that goes to court.

“Unlike other cases where police may be responding to violence, these cases are often fully investigated before the person is charged,” said attorney Jeremy Eldridge.

Eldridge – who is not connected to the case – says these are often the most serious cases, so defendants confess.

“Child pornography cases are all about confessions. When someone accesses the Internet with an electronic device, it's usually Microsoft or Google. That alerts law enforcement because the user is using a browser. Then the police get a court order, go to the person's house and confiscate their computer. There are a great many people who admit to the crime once they have the computer,” he said.

The federal government said it received 10 devices from Bendann, and the indictment alleges they possessed several sexually explicit videos and images of minors.

Bendann protested his innocence and told the court that he wanted to testify during the trial.

“There are two reasons why this case probably went to trial. One is the fact that the defendant may not believe he is guilty. The second reason is that the plea offer made to him is not satisfactory. That is, he has been made an offer that he does not like and does not want to accept, and you are in a bind,” Eldridge said.

Many of these graphic images and videos are shown to the jury throughout the trial.

Some jurors expressed concerns Thursday about viewing such material.