Buckeye Police Arrest Former Verrado Middle School Teacher on Luring and Kidnapping Charges
Buckeye Police Investigate Former Teacher Brendan Barnett for Luring Minor and Kidnapping
Buckeye Police have arrested Brendan Allen Barnett a former teacher at Verrado Middle School on charges of luring and kidnapping, according to the published article of FOX10. The allegations surfaced when school district officials reported inappropriate online chats between Barnett and a 12-year-old female student on April 12. Investigations revealed that Barnett posing as a parent of a student invited the victim to his central Phoenix home for sleepovers during which he was alone with her on multiple occasions. Barnett who was employed as a sixth-grade history teacher at Verrado Middle School since August 2017 resigned effective May 14, 2024. Following the allegations he was immediately removed from the classroom, placed on leave and barred from all district campuses.
Buckeye Police Make Arrest in Verrado Middle School Teacher Luring and Kidnapping Case
Litchfield Elementary School District (LESD79) expressed its commitment to student safety stating that Barnett had passed a background check and had no prior reports of misconduct. The district is fully cooperating with the Buckeye Police Department as the legal process continues. Barnett faces serious charges including luring a minor for sexual exploitation and three counts of kidnapping all felonies. Court documents also identify him as a potential flight risk due to possessing an ID card from Luxembourg. He was arrested on July 10 at a Phoenix library and is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond with an arraignment scheduled for July 17. The district reassures the community of its dedication to maintaining a safe environment for students as this case proceeds.
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