Former Gilman Teacher Sentenced to 35 Years for Child Sexual Abuse

Chris Bendann, a former teacher at the Gilman School, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a student and cyberstalking him. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar described Bendann as a 'predator' who violated the trust placed in him as an educator. Bendann was convicted on multiple charges, including sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography, after a trial where evidence revealed he groomed and exploited the victim from 2017 to 2019. Despite the overwhelming evidence and victim testimony, Bendann claimed he was innocent, expressing no remorse for his actions. Prosecutors highlighted the severe impact of Bendann's actions on the victim, while the defense argued that Bendann had previously been a respected teacher. Bendann will also face a lifetime of supervised release following his prison term.