Fri. Dec 13th, 2024

Mark Chavarria, the owner and operator of an Anaheim dance studio, Chavarria Institute of the Arts, has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting several girls at the studio, according to the Anaheim Police Department.

Several girls between the ages of 12 and 14 reported multiple sexual assaults at the Chavarria Institute of the Arts dance studio at 160 S. Old Springs Road to the Anaheim Police Department.

Anaheim police detectives then investigated the sexual assault allegations and arrested Chavarria, 40, who lives in Riverside, on Tuesday. He was booked at the Anaheim Police Department Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $5 million bail at the Orange County Central Jail.

Chavarria has taught at dance studios across Southern California and Arizona. Because he has been engaged at so many locations the assigned detectives believe there are possibly more victims who have not come forward.

It should also be noted that five of the instructors at Chavarria’s studio bear the last name Chavarria as seen here.

Any potential victims, or anyone with further information regarding this case, are urged to call Anaheim Police Detective Carney at 714-765-1969. Callers who choose to remain anonymous can call the O.C. Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.

In November of last year the Anaheim Police arrested Richard Hirschl, the 66-years-old owner-operator of “Hirschl School of Dance,” at the 1000 block of N. Tustin Avenue in Anaheim.

A victim claimed that Hirschl allegedly sexually assaulted the victim at his dance studio in 2012, when the victim was about 12-years-old.

Police detectives also identified a second victim who also identified Hirschl as a suspect of sexual assaults which occurred between 2014 and 2017, when that victim was between 11 and 13-years-old.

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.