Teacher Accused of Severe Abuse of 10-Year-Old Student

A special education teacher at an elementary school has been accused of committing horrific acts of rape and sexual abuse against a 10-year-old student, allegedly attacking the child up to “five times a day,” and recording these actions on his cell phone.

According to court documents, 32-year-old Mahaila Benavidez abused the boy over a period of several months at Stevens Elementary School located in Spokane, Washington. The child reported his experiences to investigators, often during discussions in the classroom’s “time-out room” with other students nearby.

In a shocking twist, Benavidez allegedly showed the boy explicit videos that he had filmed himself, even including the child’s name in some of them. He reportedly filmed himself engaging in sexual acts with the boy right in the classroom, as detailed in the disturbing allegations.

This “highly predatory” teacher exploited his authority to carry out this sexual assault, as remarked by Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Amanda Frye during Benavidez’s recent court appearance. The boy disclosed to investigators that the abuse had occurred almost daily since the winter break, sometimes multiple times a day.

The encounters primarily took place in a small adjoining room near the main classroom, each lasting about five minutes, often interrupted by prolonged “breaks.” The boy shared that Benavidez warned him against speaking about the incidents, claiming he would lose his job if he did.

Additionally, there’s an allegation that she made a sexual video of herself and shared it with a male student, in which she used the child’s name while performing inappropriate actions on camera. Authorities also reported discovering a video showing Benavidez appearing to engage in sexual acts with a child within the classroom setting.

The Spokane Police Department got involved after a family reported the suspected abuse to the school’s principal last month. Upon learning of the allegations, the school district removed Benavidez from his teaching role.

He was arrested on March 12 and has since been charged with first-degree child rape and first-degree molestation. Concerns about potential witness tampering arose when it was found that Benavidez attempted to reach out to the victim despite the ongoing investigation.

A judge recently set his bail at $750,000. A representative from Sweeser Law Firm, which is advocating for the affected families, expressed the vital need for trust between parents and schools, emphasizing that every child deserves to feel safe in the care of adults.