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Swim Coach Todd Sousa Charged With Unlawful Sex with Teenager

Todd Sousa will be arraigned Friday in Newport Beach.

 

A swim coach arrested last month in San Juan Capistrano on suspicion of having sex with one of his teenage students will be arraigned Friday on 13 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, three felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, and two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The Orange County district attorney charged Todd Robert Sousa, 36, of Irvine on Wednesday. If convicted, Sousa faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in state prison.

Sousa is out of custody on $100,000 bail. The arraignment will take place at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.  The time and department have not been determined.

Prosecutors say that at the time of the alleged crimes, Sousa co-owned and taught swim classes for Swim Venture, a South Orange County-based swim school that offered lessons at leased pools for children and adults throughout the county. Sousa was arrested at JSerra Catholic High School, where according to the aquatics director, Sousa was teaching a swim team for Aquazots, which rents the JSerra pool for several hous a day.

Authorities say the defendant met 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 vaginal area over her clothes.

Between April 1, 2010, and Feb. 18 of this year, prosecutors say, Sousa  escalated the unlawful sexual conduct by acts including digital penetration, oral copulation and sexual intercourse on several occasions. He is accused of sexually assaulting the girl in the Swim Ventures office, in an equipment closet and in his car.

On Feb. 18, prosecutors say, Sousa picked up Jane Doe and her friend from the Irvine Spectrum and drove them to the Swim Ventures office. He is accused of providing alcohol to the young women 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 alleged sexual relationship with their daughter from the parents of one of her friends and contacted law enforcement, authorities said.

Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is asked to call investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.

Related Topics: Arraignment and Swim Venture

Jill

5:15 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011

Thank you for keeping updates on this story. Todd should have the walk of shame tomorrow in court & have to pass by the people he has let down & completely disgusted by his acts. He deserves every minute of his time in prison and I can't believe he's allowed to be out on bail. What kind of person bails out an admitted child molester.... who owns a swim school that caters to children & teens????? The whole story makes me sick. My heart goes out the victim & family.

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Maddaug

5:36 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011

Todd should spend at least 13 years. He will get his punishment there. The victim will never be the same. She is changed for life. Innocence is lost. This man just ruined a young girls life (probably more for that matter). This happens way to often in our country. Stiffer sentenced need to be handed down so these sick bottom feeders think twice or stay behind bars and can't hurt other children.

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