Former Gilman School teacher Chris Bendann faces federal court

A former Gilman School teacher is set to appear in federal court on Wednesday on charges of sexually abusing a student and recording videos of the sexual abuse.

Chris Bendann is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Baltimore for jury selection. He is accused of sexually assaulting a student five times and recording eight explicit videos between September 16, 2017, and February 9, 2019.

What you need to know:

Who is Chris Bendann?

Bendann, 40, of Baltimore, graduated from Gilman School in 2003 and worked at the private, independent boys' school in Roland Park from 2007 to 2023, according to his LinkedIn page.

In addition to teaching geography and social studies, Bendann also held other roles, including admissions officer.

What allegations are being made in the proceedings?

Federal prosecutors allege that Bendann picked up the student and his friends after drinking and in exchange ran laps naked in Meadowood Regional Park and on a hill near St. Paul's Schools.

During these trips, Bendann told the student to undress and masturbate, prosecutors allege. Later, they claim, Bendann began touching the student's genitals.

According to the prosecutor, Bendann sexually abused the student in her home or while he was looking after other families' homes and recorded videos of it.

If he did not comply with his demands, Bendann threatened to publish sexually explicit images, prosecutors claim.

“Puppy,” Bendann wrote to the student on December 7, 2022, when he was an adult. “Puppy responds.”

The Baltimore Banner does not publish the names of individuals who claim to be victims of sexual abuse without their permission.

What charges are Bendann facing?

Bendann is charged with nine counts:

• Sexual exploitation of a child (five counts)
• Possession of child pornography (three counts)
• Cyberstalking (one count)

Sexual exploitation of a child carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.

How did we get here?

In a letter dated January 20, 2023, Gilman School Principal Henry PA Smyth wrote that the school had fired Bendann after receiving multiple reports of “inappropriate behavior toward students outside of school.”

On February 3, 2023, police executed a search and seizure warrant on Bendann's home in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood of Towson and arrested him.

Bendann was initially charged in Baltimore County with sexual abuse of a minor, rape, perverted practices and similar offenses. He was later released under house arrest to await trial.

As part of the investigation, the FBI seized 18 electronic devices that law enforcement seized during the search, but investigators were unable to examine them for several months as both sides negotiated legal issues behind closed doors.

On August 16, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Bendann on six counts, and two days later, police arrested him. On May 29, three more counts were filed against Bendann.

He remains in custody at the Chesapeake Detention Facility.

What did Bendann say about the allegations?

Bendann has maintained his innocence from the beginning.

In private posts on Facebook and Instagram, Bendann wrote that the allegations were false. Unfortunately, he was one of more than 3,000 people in the United States who had been wrongly accused of a crime since 1989.

“Unfortunately, in a court of public opinion, one is presumed guilty until proven innocent,” he said. “That is wrong. I know there are many rumors circulating about this case. While my accuser has had free rein to tell his story through his lawyer, I will appear in court and set the record straight.”

He later held a press conference with his then-attorney Kobie Flowers on the steps of the Baltimore County Courthouse and reiterated his innocence.

Who are the lawyers in this case?

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen McGuinn and Kim Hagan are prosecuting the case. Bendann is represented by Christopher Nieto and Gary Proctor.

Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar will preside over the trial.

How long is the process expected to take?

The process could take up to two weeks.