Ex-rosarian Teacher Accused of Sex Acts with Kids

By Aleese Kopf And David Rogers
Daily News
April 5, 2013

http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/ex-rosarian-teacher-accused-of-sex-acts-with-kids/nXC2N/

A former Rosarian Academy teacher was arrested Thursday on numerous charges, including sexual battery on a child, West Palm Beach police officials said Thursday.

Stephen J. Budd, a fourth-grade teacher at Rosarian at the time of the alleged crimes, was charged with three counts of sexual battery on a child, two counts of sexual performance by a child, two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition, and two counts of battery of a child.

Budd, 51, of West Palm Beach, was arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail early Thursday morning. He is being held without bail.

“We fear there may be additional victims so the purpose of this today is to announce his arrest with the hopes that if there are additional victims, they will come forward,” said West Palm Beach Police Chief Vincent Demasi at a Thursday news conference.

One victim came forward early last week after she told her parents she received a Facebook message from Budd, said Capt. David Bernhardt. Another victim came forward shortly thereafter.

“The victim informed her parents of the incidences in the past, and the oath that she had with the second victim,” Bernhardt said.

The girls claim Budd rewarded them with “Budd Bucks” or candy in exchange for sexual acts during the 2006-07 school year, according to a probable cause affidavit. They were both 9-years-old when the offenses began, according to police documents.

The crimes began during the second week of school and became a daily routine between Budd and both victims, police said. Budd touched the victims underneath their clothes, asked them to perform sexual acts on him and had them watch as he performed sexual acts on himself, documents show.

After one sexual act, one of the victims discarded clothing to conceal the crime from her parents.

Budd also directed the victims to perform sexual acts on each other, including taking naked photographs via the classroom Polaroid camera, police said.

Rosarian principal Virginia Devine said in a statement Thursday that "Rosarian Academy’s leadership was shocked and distressed to learn yesterday of disturbing allegations against a former teacher at the school by two of our alums. We are cooperating fully with local law enforcement in the investigation so that the facts associated with this alleged incident dating back to the 2006-2007 school year are brought to light as quickly and comprehensively as possible.

"Nothing is more important to us at Rosarian Academy than the safety and well-being of our students. Nurturing their healthy growth and intellectual and spiritual development has been at the core of the school’s mission since 1925. We have in place procedures and protocols for interviewing prospective faculty and checking their background and references. As more information comes to light, we will continue to keep the Rosarian family and our community fully informed about this serious matter. Our prayers are with the families involved."

After coming forward, police had the girls call Budd in an attempt to obtain more information. Budd apologized, but not for a specific act in fear of law enforcement involvement, according to police documents. The girls heard the sounds of rummaging and zippers. Officers in the area observed Budd attempt to drive away and arrested him without incident.

Police are working on obtaining information from other schools, Demasi said.

“We know he was an instructor at several different schools throughout the Palm Beach County area, so any place that this individual, Mr. Budd, was an instructor at runs a significant risk of him having offended at that location.”

Demasi said he is confident that there are additional victims out there.

“Based on our investigation, we feel that he is a serial offender,” he said. “We want to make sure that victims come forward and assist in this investigation. We will do everything to keep information confidential.”