| For Immediate Release Case # TBA March 24, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
SWIM INSTRUCTOR TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT WHOM HE MET THROUGH COACHING
*Orange County District Attorney is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims
SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a swim instructor charged with having an unlawful sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female student. Todd Robert Sousa, 36, Irvine, was charged yesterday, March 23, 2011, with 13 felony counts of lewd acts on a child, three felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, and two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in state prison. Sousa is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Friday, March 25, 2011, at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. The time and Department are to be determined.
At the time of the crime, Sousa co-owned and taught swim classes for Swim Venture, an Orange County-based swim school and program that offered lessons in leased pools for children and adults throughout the County.
The defendant is accused of meeting 15-year-old Jane Doe while working as her swim instructor. He is accused of grooming the victim and having unlawful sexual contact with her, including kissing and touching her breasts and vagina over her clothes.
Between April 1, 2010, and Feb. 18, 2011, Sousa is accused of escalating the unlawful sexual conduct including digital penetration, oral copulation, and sexual intercourse on several occasions. He is accused of sexually assaulting the victim in the Swim Venture office, an equipment closet, and in his car.
On Feb. 18, 2011, Sousa is accused of picking Jane Doe and her friend up from Irvine Spectrum and driving them to the Swim Venture office. He is accused of providing alcohol to both victims before taking Jane Doe into another room to have sex with her while her friend waited outside.
Jane Doe’s parents learned of Sousa’s unlawful sexual relationship from Jane Doe’s friend’s parents and contacted law enforcement.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.