Former Bloomingdale teacher re-arrested on voyeurism charges

TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - A former high school teacher faces hundreds of new felony charges for recording students while they were undressing.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, detectives found an additional 238 images and videos of students and one adult in the recording and storage devices belonging to Mark Ackett.

Previously, Ackett had been charged with 267 counts of video voyeurism in the same case.

The former fashion design teacher at Bloomingdale High School was arrested September 2018, after detectives said a student found a recording device inside one of the designated changing areas inside Ackett's classroom.

Ackett was initially charged with one count of video voyeurism, but after further investigation, investigators discovered more disturbing material.

"The more they uncover in his devices, the more charges that keep coming," said Crystal Clark, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office.

To date, Ackett faces more than 500 counts of video voyeurism and 72 counts of production of harmful material using a minor, among other charges, including child pornography.

Students at Bloomingdale High School said it's hard to process.

"I don't understand how somebody could do that to so many young people," said Kylie Kuhn, a junior at the school.

The number of victims has not been released, but investigators believe Ackett got away with recording students for about two years.

Clark said detectives have talked to all the victims and their parents, adding that there may be more victims.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim or who has any additional information is asked to call authorities.

Ackett is being held on a nearly $2 million bond.