Substitute Teacher Faces Multiple Charges Over Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Mark M. Pentilla, a 69-year-old substitute teacher from South Florida, is facing serious charges related to the alleged possession of child sexual abuse material. He was arrested last week after deputies from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office reported that he had ten files containing such material in his possession.

Pentilla had been working as a substitute teacher within the Palm Beach County Schools system at the time of his arrest. According to the arrest report, the investigation into Pentilla’s actions began after the Broward County Sheriff’s Office shared information with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office in August 2023. This information indicated that Pentilla had uploaded an image related to child sexual abuse material.

During questioning, Pentilla reportedly confessed to the deputies, stating, “You wanted to know why I would look at something like that, it’s because I am curious about it. It’s just curiosity and wondering what the, uh, what’s what people are doing.”

Following his arrest, Pentilla was taken to the Palm Beach County jail, where his bond was set at $10,000. The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover more details regarding the case.

Florida has faced several cases involving child sexual abuse within its educational institutions. Notably:

Dozier School for Boys

The Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida, was notorious for its history of abuse. Between 1900 and 1973, nearly 100 boys died at the institution. In January 2025, Florida lawmakers formally apologized and initiated a compensation program for the victims, acknowledging the physical and sexual abuse endured by hundreds of men during their time at the school.

Failure to Report Sexual Assault

In July 2023, five employees from a Florida school system were arrested for failing to report the sexual assault of a 15-year-old student. The charges stemmed from their knowledge of the incident in 2021 and their subsequent failure to report it, highlighting concerns about the handling of sexual abuse cases within educational institutions.

Teacher Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

In a separate case, Shawn Christopher Fitzgerald, a former Florida teacher, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for possessing over 700 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. The investigation began after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, leading to his arrest and conviction.

Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Darrin Bell has been apprehended in connection with alleged possession of child sex abuse material