Costa Mesa music teacher charged with molesting two young girls

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying additional potential sexual assault victims of a Costa Mesa music teacher who has been charged with a dozen felonies for molesting two young girls over a period of several years, beginning when the girls were just four and five years old.

Anthony (Tony) Philip Bruccoliere, 49, of Costa Mesa, has been charged with four felony counts of a forcible lewd act upon a child under 14, one felony count of sexual penetration with a child 10 years or younger, five felony counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and two felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under the age of 14.

Bruccoliere faces a maximum sentence of 180 years to life if convicted on all counts. He is currently being held at the Central Men’s Jail on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 4, 2022 in W12.

Costa Mesa Police Department detectives arrested Bruccoliere on February 11, 2022 after two teenage girls reported that he had molested them multiple times over a period of years. Bruccoliere is accused of molesting the girls in numerous locations, including his music studio, between 2008 and 2019.

“This man has become a parent’s worst nightmare by preying on innocent young girls,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The years of trauma these girls were forced to endure is unspeakable. The pain and suffering of sexual assault doesn’t just end when the physical attack is over; the psychological damage continues throughout the victims’ entire life. I will do everything in my power under the law to keep this monster behind bars and ensure he is no longer able to hurt another child.”

Authorities believe Bruccoliere’s occupation as a music teacher and his access to children may have resulted in other children being sexually assaulted.

Anyone who may have additional information regarding this case or other potential victims is asked to contact Costa Mesa Police Detective Alicia DeFuria at 714-754-5364 or adefuria@costamesaca.gov or Sergeant Jose Morales at 714-754-48933.

Deputy District Attorney Alyssa Staudinger of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.