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Charges in the trial against Christopher Bendann are suspended

TODAY'S TESTIMONY IN FEDERAL COURT. THE PROSECUTORS' OFFICE RESTED LATE AFTER THE SIXTH AND FINAL WITNESS FINISHED HER TESTIMONY. IT WAS A SPECIAL AGENT FOR THE FBI, AND WHILE SHE WAS IN THE STATE'S STAND, THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED EVIDENCE INTO THE RECORDS IN AN UNUSUAL WAY. TWO PEOPLE READING A 387-PAGE FOLDER OF TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN THE ACCUSED AND THE ALLEGED VICTIM. IT LASTED ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS. IT WAS THE ABRIDGED VERSION AND IT LASTED 63 MINUTES. ON TUESDAY, SIX PROSECUTION WITNESSES TAKE THE TESTIMONY, INCLUDING THREE WHO BELONGED TO THE FRIENDS GROUP OF THE ALLEGED MINOR VICTIMS CORPS IN GILMAN. THROUGH THEIR TESTIMONY, THE JURY HEARD THAT THE ACCUSED HELD HOUSE PARTIES WHERE CHILDREN COULD DRINK AND TAKE DRUGS, THAT HE SENT BOYS OFFENSIVE AND SEXUALIZED SNAPCHAT MESSAGES SUCH AS, “ARE YOU WEARING PANTS?” AND THAT HE SURPRISED A 116-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS MONOPHY AND HOME SICK BY WAITING IN THE BOYS' ROOM AS HE CAME OUT OF THE SHOWER AND SAID, “LET'S WRESTLE,” THEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF HIS TOWEL. TWICE DURING CROSS-EXAMINATION, THE DEFENSE, AS EXPECTED, ATTACKED THE CHARACTER OF THE WITNESSES AND THE RELIABILITY OF WITNESS TESTIMONY. ONE PERSON ADMITTED TO USING THE WORD “GAY” IN A NEGATIVE WAY WHILE TEXTING WITH FRIENDS, SAID HE WAS NOT PROUD OF IT, AND SAID YES HE HAD TEXTED FRIENDS TO BUILD UP FURTHER ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BENDON, BUT INSISTED NONE OF WHAT HAS COME OUT SO FAR HAS BEEN UNTRUE, AND SAID HE WAS ANGRY THAT HIS BEST FRIEND WAS BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED BY SOMEONE THEY TRUSTED. WE THOUGHT HE WAS A MENTOR. IT TURNS OUT HE TOLD THE JURY HE WAS ACTUALLY A MONSTER. EARLIER TODAY THE DEFENSE SAID THE DEFENDANT WAS PLANNING TO TESTIFY IN HIS OWN DEFENSE AFTER THE PROSECUTION FINISHED. THE JUDGE MADE SURE CHRIS BENDON UNDERSTANDED HIS RIGHTS, BENDON TOLD THE JUDGE, “YES, I DO.” THEN HE ADDED, “Your Honor, I was advised to say I will sleep on it and let you know tomorrow morning if he will testify.” IS THAT OKAY? THE JUDGE SAID, “That's OK” AND TOLD EVERYONE TO BE BACK HERE IN FEDERAL COURT TOMORROW.

Text threads read for over an hour, charges rest in trial against Christopher Bendann

Prosecutions were rested in the criminal trial of a former Gilman School teacher. 40-year-old Christopher Bendann is accused of nine counts, including sexual exploitation of a child, child pornography and cyberstalking. Prosecutions were rested late Tuesday afternoon following testimony from an FBI special agent. While she was on the stand, the government introduced a text conversation into evidence in an unusual way – it was read into the transcript by two different people from a 387-page binder. The reading lasted 63 minutes. Six prosecution witnesses took the stand, including three who were among the alleged underage victim's closest circle of friends at Gilman School. “He hosted get-togethers, house parties, where the kids could drink and do drugs,” one witness said. Bendann also allegedly sent the boys lewd and sexualized Snapchat messages, such as “Do you have pants on?” according to a witness.He also surprised a 16-year-old who was home sick with mononucleosis. “He was waiting in my room when I got out of the shower. He said 'Let's wrestle,' and then tried to pull the towel away from me,” a witness said. During cross-examination, the defense attacked the witness' character and testimony. One person admitted to using the word “gay” in a negative way and said they were not proud of it. They also admitted to texting friends to construct further allegations, but insisted that everything that came out was true and that they were angry at the time. “My best friend was sexually abused by someone we trusted,” a witness said. “We thought he was a mentor when in reality he was a monster.”The defense had previously told the judge that the defendant wanted to testify in his own defense. After the government took a break, the judge asked Bendann whether or not he understood his right to testify. Bendann said he did. “I was advised to say I'll sleep on it and let you know tomorrow if I'm going to testify,” Bendann said. “Is that OK?” The judge granted the request.

BALTIMORE —

The charges related to the federal criminal case against a former Gilman School teacher.

Christopher Bendann, 40, is charged with nine counts, including sexual exploitation of a child, child pornography and cyberstalking.

The prosecution rested late Tuesday afternoon after the testimony of an FBI special agent. While she was on the witness stand, the government introduced a text conversation into evidence in an unusual way: It was read into the record by two different people from a 387-page folder. The reading lasted 63 minutes.

Six witnesses for the prosecution testified, including three from the alleged underage victim's closest circle of friends in Gilman.

“He hosted gatherings, house parties where the kids could drink and do drugs,” said one witness.

According to a witness, Bendann also allegedly sent the boys lewd and sexualized Snapchat messages such as “Are you wearing pants?”.

He also surprised a 16-year-old who was sick at home with glandular fever.

“He was waiting in my room when I got out of the shower. He said, 'Let's wrestle,' and then tried to pull the towel away from me,” said a witness.

During cross-examination, the defense attacked the witness's character and testimony.

One person admitted to using the word “gay” in a derogatory sense and said she was not proud of it. She also admitted to texting friends to support further allegations, but insisted that everything that came out was true and that she was angry at the time.

“My best friend was sexually abused by someone we trusted,” said one witness. “We thought he was a mentor, but in reality he was a monster.”

The defense had previously informed the judge that the defendant intended to testify in his own defense. After the defense had made its speech, the judge asked Bendann whether or not he was aware of his right to testify. Bendann replied in the affirmative.

“I was advised to say I'll sleep on it and let you know tomorrow if I'll testify,” Bendann said. “Is that OK?”

The judge granted the request.

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