| For Immediate Release May 18, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 |
FUGITIVE PIANO TEACHER ARRESTED IN
CANADA AFTER FLEEING ON CHARGES OF MOLESTING AN 8-YEAR-OLD STUDENT
*Will be extradited to Orange County at a later date
SANTA ANA – A fugitive piano teacher accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl was arrested yesterday at 7:30 p.m. in Canada after fleeing Orange County in 2006 in an effort to avoid prosecution on child molest charges. Daniel Peter Gaudin, 68, is charged with one felony count of lewd acts on a child under 14, one felony count of continuous sexual abuse, and faces a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing substantial sexual conduct on a child. If convicted on all counts, Gaudin faces a maximum sentence of 18 years in state prison. Gaudin is appearing this morning in a Canadian court and an extradition request will be filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s office within 60 days.
Gaudin was the piano teacher for two years for an 8-year-old girl and her 11-year-old sister. Between October 1, 2004 and March 31, 2006, and on April 18, 2006, the defendant is accused of sexually assaulting the 8-year-old girl during her weekly piano lessons at the children’s home. He is accused of touching her vagina multiple times over her clothes during each lesson, tickling her and whispering in her ear that he loved her. He is accused of scheduling the piano lessons while the parents were not at home and only a nanny was present to have greater access to the child. Gaudin fled the state to Germany while he was out on bail and awaiting trial for the child molest, and was arrested trying to enter Canada yesterday from Germany on an immigration hold.
Deputy District Attorney Aleta Bryant of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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