A California piano teacher is accused of sexually abusing his 13-year-old student over the course of three months at the educator’s home, car and office, according to prosecutors.
Hovanes John Jihanyan, 41, was arrested on Dec. 13 and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child and other related felonies weeks after police probed a report of suspected child abuse by a teacher, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney.
Some of the incidents occurred at the student’s home, the teacher’s home and vehicle, and his studio at the French Conservatory of Music in Beverly Hills between Aug. 1 and Nov. 9, prosecutors said.
The victim turned 14-years-old during the time of the alleged abuse.
“I am appalled by these horrific acts of sexual abuse against a vulnerable child,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.
“Our office has a long history of aggressively prosecuting child abuse cases, and we are fully committed to seeking justice for the victim and their family. The skilled and dedicated prosecutors in our Sex Crimes Division will ensure any criminal who targets children is held accountable.”
Prosecutors believe there are additional victims.
The Santa Monica Police Department launched an investigation on Nov. 19 after detectives received a report that a piano teacher was sexually abusing his teenage student.
A search warrant was executed and the Van Nuys resident was taken into custody in Encino, police said.
The accused sexual predator was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, forcible oral copulation of a minor victim over 14 years, sexual penetration of a minor under 16 years, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16 years, sodomy of a child under 16, and lewd act of a child age 14 or 15.
Jihanyan was booked at Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles and is being held on $1 million bail.
The accused sexual deviant faces up to 29 years in state prison, if convicted, and would be required to register as a sex offender for life, prosecutors said.
He will be arraigned on Jan. 15, 2025, at the Airport Courthouse.
