North Carolina Teacher Escapes Jail Time After He Filmed Minor Girls Getting Undressed In His Classroom
A former Jacksonville, North Carolina middle school teacher who secretly recorded minor female students getting undressed in his classroom — and then masturbated to the explicit videos — has been sentenced to probation.
According to a police warrant dated April 29, 2022, the then 46-year-old former New Bridge Middle School language arts teacher, Stephen Joseph Bera, secretly installed a hidden recording device inside his classroom — specifically in classroom 205.
North Carolina Teacher Accused Of Sending Inappropriate Messages To 14-Year-Old Former Student
Investigators said the device captured multiple explicit videos of minor juvenile female students “while in various states of undress inside of the classroom.” The warrant also revealed that Bera watched those videos on his work computer and masturbated while becoming aroused by the explicit footage.
Guilty Plea To 18 Felony Counts
Court records show that in September of last month, Bera recently pled to 18 felony counts of secret peeping.
His prison time was suspended, and a judge sentenced him to two and a half years of supervised probation instead of sending him to prison.
The same judge ordered that on November 20, it will be decided on whether Bera will be required to register as a sex offender.
This decision has infuriated parents in Onslow County who say the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
As part of his probation, Bera is required to:
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Have no contact — directly or indirectly — with any victim or their family.
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Complete CBI classes within the first 12 months of probation.
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Undergo a sex offender evaluation and follow all recommended treatment.
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Stay off the property of any Onslow County school.
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Avoid any employment where he would supervise or care for children.
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Refrain from possessing any secret recording devices.
Parents across the Onslow County Schools district have taken to social media to express their anger and disbelief that Bera would instruct female students to undress and change clothes in his classroom — unknowingly while recording them the entire time.
