Verrado teacher sentenced to 4 years related to kidnapping, luring 12-year-old for sex

A former Verrado teacher who had sleepovers with a 12-year-old student was sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court to four and a half years in prison today.

Brendan Barnett, a former Verrado Middle School teacher, was sentenced for his role in luring a minor to his house for sleepovers, according to court documents.

Barnett agreed to a plea deal on multiple counts related to attempting to commit or lure a minor for sex exploitation. He would have faced a possible 35-year sentence absent a plea deal, according to court documents.

School officials became tipped off on the matter when a student advisor noticed a student messaging Barnett through the district’s Clever app. The 12-year-old victim reportedly asked Barnett to ejaculate on her, according to court documents.

As a response, Barnett told the victim to message him on Discord instead, a private third-party messaging app.

On school portal communications, the victim also expressed suicidal ideations, to which Barnett told her to “live for me if no one else.”

The 36-year-old teacher was investigated following an April 12, 2024, report from school district officials, according to a Buckeye Police Department press release.

"During the investigation, detectives learned Barnett lied to the victim's parents when inviting her to his central Phoenix home for sleepovers," the release reads. "Barnett claimed he was the parent of a Verrado Middle School student who would be attending the sleepovers."

Court documents outline at least two instances where the victim slept over, which would entail watching anime on the couch. Both Barnett and the victim claimed no sexual contact took place.

Law enforcement subsequently obtained a warrant for Discord communications. In those chats, the victim offered to perform oral sex on the defendant, to which he replied “ok, really?” and “I love you.”

Barnett’s mother was present for the sentencing and gave a testimony to Judge Margaret B. LaBianca. However, LaBianca sentenced Barnett to a sentence greater than the presumptive term of three years because he abused his position of trust as the student’s history teacher.

“The abuse of a position of trust as the victim, is very concerning,” she said. “The planned deception of the parents, is aggravating, in my view.”

Barnett’s mother was visibly shaken and grasped her mouth during LaBianca’s reading.

Michael McDaniel can be reached at [email protected]. We invite our readers to submit their civil comments or opinions on this or any issue. Email [email protected].