A Rialto man who is a special-education teacher with the Colton Joint Unified School District has been accused of sexually abusing two young relatives starting in 2004 and charged with nine felonies, according to Rialto police and court records.
His wife is also charged with two counts of felony child abuse. Court records indicate those alleged crimes occurred in 2015.
Court records don’t show that Benjamin Franklin Kundert III and Janet Lynn Kundert, also known as Janet Dodge, entered pleas Tuesday. Both are age 59. Her occupation is not listed in records.
Two girls recently came forward to report that Benjamin Kundert began abusing them when they were 6 and 14 years old, according to Rialto police Lt. Paul Stella.
After an extensive investigation, Stella said, he was arrested Thursday, Nov. 9. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office charged him Tuesday with nine counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child. He remains in custody, with bail set at $350,000.
There is no record that Janet Kundert had been arrested as of Tuesday.
The criminal complaint against Benjamin Kundert alleges the sexual abuse began in 2004 and continued until 2010.
Authorities do not believe any of the children he teaches were targeted.
“Benjamin Kundert is an employee of (Colton Joint Unified School District) and has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation,” according to district spokeswoman Katie Orloff. “Currently the investigation does not involve any CJUSD students. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement.”
Officials confirmed he teaches special education but didn’t say for what school or grade level.
He holds an Education Specialist Instruction Credential and is authorized to work with students on the autism spectrum as well as students with learning disabilities, mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, other health impairments and emotional disturbances from grade 1 through age 22, according to California Commission on Teacher Credentialing records. His credential was first issued in 2010 and most recently renewed in April.
He also holds a valid crosscultural, language and academic development certificate that authorizes him to teach students who have limited proficiency in English.
