Former Gilman School teacher Chris Bendann found guilty on all counts of child sexual abuse

BALTIMORE – Former Gilman School teacher Chris Bendann was found guilty on all counts of child sex abuse in a trial Wednesday.

The jury deliberated for just over an hour on the Charged with child pornography, child exploitation and cyberstalking before a verdict is announced.

Bendann, who chose not to testify in his defense, was convicted of inappropriate conduct toward a then-15-year-old Gilman student.

Closing argument

The jury heard its closing arguments on Wednesday and began deliberating around 3 p.m.

At the beginning of the trial, Bendann had stated that he wanted to testify in his defense, but decided against it before the trial resumed on Wednesday morning.

In their closing argument, the prosecution attempted to make clear Bendann's guilt, while the defense argued that Bendann had a consensual relationship with his former student.

Prosecutors alleged that Bendann used his position as a teacher at Gilman School to develop close relationships with his students, including one victim. They called him a “wolf in sheep's clothing” and said, “This is a side of Mr. Bendann that the Gilman community has not seen.”

Bendenn is accused of having sexual contact with a 14 or 15 year old teenager and of filming explicit videos of him.

Prosecutors said Bendann sent the victim numerous messages and threatened to publish the confidential material if she did not respond.

Bendann's defense attorney acknowledged that his client stalked the victim online because he “lost his mind when (the victim) left high school and moved on.”

However, the defense argued that Bendann was not guilty of child pornography and child sexual exploitation charges and attempted to refute the prosecution's arguments, arguing that the relationship between Bendann and the victim was consensual and that the videos shown to the jury were recorded after the victim's 18th birthday.

The defense attorney said the prosecution expected a conviction due to the sensitivity of the case.