Former L.A. teacher set to plead guilty to committing lewd acts against students

The teacher charged with committing lewd acts against nearly two dozen children at a Los Angeles elementary school has agreed to plead no contest. The Los Angeles Times reports that Mark Berndt, who taught at Miramonte Elementary, has agreed to a sentence of 25 years in prison. The plea agreement was reached after all those involved agreed it was essential to avoid having children testify in court.