15-Year Sentence For Teacher Who Recorded Students Undressing

VALRICO, FL — A former fashion design teacher and girls' track coach at Bloomingdale High received a sentence of 15 years Monday evening by a judge, according to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office.

Mark Ackett, 52, recorded students undressing in a changing area at the school, investigators said. In September 2018, a student found a hidden cell phone in one of the dressing areas. Ackett was arrested shortly after the discovery followed by police launching an investigation. During the investigation, detectives found that the teacher used a cell phone and multiple electronic devices to record more than a hundred students changing clothes. He entered an open plea of guilty before Judge Laura Ward in April. He was charged with 324 counts of video voyeurism.

Since April, a spokesperson with the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office told Patch that police found more recordings of victims undressing inside his home. Ackett will be on sex offender probation for the rest of his life after he has served his sentence.

Prior to Ward announcing the sentence, several victims spoke about the damage the traumatic experience has caused for them, Fox 13 News reported. One victim said that she will be scared to change inside a dressing room from now on.

*Due to Marsy's Law, the names of the victims will not be released. Patch also does not share the names of minors.

Related Patch Story:

• Bloomingdale Teacher Pleads Guilty To Recording Students Changing