Former Gilman School Teacher Chris Bedann: What Happens Now?

Former Gilman School teacher Chris Bendann was found guilty this week on all charges that he sexually abused a student, recorded explicit videos and threatened to release nude photos.

Bendann was convicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore of sexual exploitation of a child, possession of child pornography and cyberstalking. He worked at the private, independent boys school in Roland Park from 2007 to 2023.

And this is what’s going to happen now.

What crimes was Chris Bendann convicted of at trial?

Bendann, 40, of Baltimore, was found guilty of nine charges:

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Sexual exploitation of a child (five charges)
Possession of child pornography (three charges)
Cyberstalking (one charge)

Between September 16, 2017, and February 9, 2019, Bendann sexually abused the student and recorded eight graphic videos, which the FBI found on his iCloud account and on two laptops.

When the student became an adult, Bendann repeatedly texted him and threatened to release nude photos if he did not respond or provide more nude photos and videos.

The jury deliberated for less than an hour, less time than it took the judge to read the 65 pages of instructions.

The student, now 23, testified that Bendann would drive him and his friends to Meadowood Regional Park or a hill near St. Paul’s Schools to run naked as payoff for favors. The behavior, he said, “just got worse and worse.”

Bendann was his teacher, advisor and coach in eighth grade.

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The Baltimore Banner does not identify victims of sexual abuse without their consent.

Bendann’s attorneys, Christopher Nieto and Gary Proctor, argued that their client had a relationship with the man after he turned 18 and disputed that the videos contained child sexual abuse.

“Mr. Bendann did not sexually abuse a minor and did not knowingly possess child pornography,” Nieto said in his closing argument.

But in her closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Kim Hagan said the man “was not in a relationship.” Instead, she said, he was “in hell.”

“This was a side of Mr. Bendann that the Gilman community didn’t see,” Hagan said.

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“Sexual exploitation of a child can happen in any community,” she added. “All it takes is a perpetrator with a hidden agenda.”

When will he get his punishment?

The verdict is scheduled for 1 p.m. on January 21, 2025.

How much jail time could he get?

Sexual exploitation of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. The maximum sentence is 30 years. A judge has the authority to impose consecutive or concurrent sentences.

Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years. Cyberstalking, on the other hand, is punishable by up to five years.

Often people do not receive the maximum sentence, especially if they have no criminal record.

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But the decision rests entirely with U.S. District Judge James Bredar.

He must impose a sentence that is sufficient, but not more severe, to achieve the objectives of sentencing. These objectives include reflecting the seriousness of the crime, providing adequate deterrence, and protecting the public.

The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System will prepare a presentence report. Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys may file memos prior to sentencing.