FLORIDA
WPBF
[with video]
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —Both sides are questioning a pool of potential jurors in the Stephen Budd sexual molestation trial which began Tuesday.
Budd, 53, was a fourth grade teacher at Rosarian Academy in 2006-2007 when two former students now say he coerced them into performing sex acts on him and each other, in exchange for “Budd Bucks.”
The fake money with Budd’s picture on it could be traded for candy and prizes.
The girls told police the abuse went on for months in the classroom, where Budd would have them perform sex acts on him while they crouched under his desk during class. They said he also had them perform sex on each other and take nude pictures with the class Polaroid.
One girl said she would throw her clothing away after it was soiled for fear her parents would discover it.
The girls said they took a vow of silence, but one came forward recently after she said Budd contacted her on Facebook.
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