Main Menu

Ex-Teacher Faces 238 Additional Charges of Video Voyeurism Involving Students

Mark William Ackett | Hillsborough Sheriff | Arrests

This is the third time he has been accused of video voyeurism. He was charged once in September and charged with an additional 267 counts in October.

PLANT CITY – A former teacher at Bloomingdale Senior High School was arrested for the third time Friday (Feb. 15) in connection with allegations that he used his cell phone to take videos and pictures of girls changing clothes in the school’s Fashion Design class, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Mark William Ackett, 50, of Plant City, was charged with 238 counts of Video Voyeurism Defendant 18 or older, School Employee, a second degree felony; one count of Video Voyeurism – Defendant 18 or older, a third degree felony; and 72 counts of Production of Harmful Material using a Minor, a third degree felony.

Ackett was charged Sept. 11 with one count of Video Voyeurism when he was accused of videoing a student while she was undressing. (Click here for story.)

In October, Ackett was again arrested. This time, he was charged with 267 counts of Video Voyeurism, 73 counts of Production of Harmful Material of a Minor, and 13 counts of Possession of Child Pornography. (Click here for story.)

Deputies said Ackett is in jail under a bond of under a bond of $1.931 million dollars.

Deputies originally found out about Ackett in September when a Bloomingdale student entered a designated fitting/changing room within a fashion design classroom to try on clothing. While changing into various outfits, she noticed an electronic recording devices set up to covertly record the same area where she was undressing. The student immediately dressed herself and reported the incident to the school administration.

During the initial investigation, the cellphones were seized and a court authorized search warrant was obtained and served on the devices. A forensic analysis of the cellphones revealed 267 videos and images of girls ranging from 14 to 18 years old, in various stages of undress. As a result, Ackett was again arrested.

Friday’s arrest came after deputies said they conducted a forensic analysis of multiple recording devices and digital media storage devices after the service of a court authorized search warrant. Deputies said they found videos and images of girls changing in the Fashion Design class at Bloomingdale High School, 1700 E Bloomingdale Ave. in Valrico.

Ackett can be seen on numerous videos placing, concealing and removing the recording devices, deputies said. Two hundred thirty-eight videos and images depicting students of the school in various stages of undress were found. One video depicts an adult in stages of undress. Seventy-two videos/images depict various female students with their breast or buttocks exposed.

Deputies said the criminal investigation is ongoing. Anyone who believes they or their child may have been a victim is encouraged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.

Hillsborough Sheriff | Crime | Video Voyeurism | Arrests | Tampabay News

#HillsboroughSheriff #Crime #VideoVoyeurism #Arrests #TampabayNews