May 4, 2023
The owner and operator of a Riverside County dance studio was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting multiple girls.
Police confirmed that Mark Chavarria, 40, a dance instructor at the Chavarria Institute of the Arts studio at 160 South Old Springs Road in Anaheim, was taken into custody following reports of multiple sexual assaults involving young girls. Several girls between 12-14 years old came forward to inform law enforcement that the assaults happened while they were attending the studio, Anaheim Police said.
After learning of the allegations from the multiple victims, detectives immediately investigated the incidents and later arrested Chavarria for several sexual assault offenses. The Anaheim dance instructor was booked in the local Police Detention Facility and is currently being held on $5 million bail at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Central Jail, a report from KTLA confirmed.
Anaheim Police Department Sergeant Jon McClintock indicated that Chavarria has taught for several years at dance studios across Southern California and Arizona. Detectives believe there may be additional girls who have been victimized by Chavarria but not yet come forward.
Anyone with information regarding the sexual assault case involving Mark Chavarria is urged to contact Anaheim Police Detective Carney at 714-765-1969.
Callers who would prefer to remain anonymous may contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.
In November 2022, the owner of the Hirschl School of Dance, located on the 1000 block of N. Tustin Avenue in Anaheim, was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting two minors. Richard Hirschl of Tustin was taken into custody and charged with lewd and lascivious acts involving a minor.
At the time of Hirschl’s arrest, the identities of the victims were not disclosed, but the descriptions provided by police included:
Hirschl was released on $100,000 bail shortly after being taken into custody. If convicted on all child sex abuse charges, he faces a sentence of up to 14 years in state prison.
At the time of Hirschl’s arrest, authorities cautioned that there could be additional victims who have yet to come forward. Law enforcement officials encouraged anyone with information to contact Anaheim Detective L. Cao at 714-765-1679.
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