Investigators have arrested a 25-year-old man who has been a dance and drama teacher at several Orange County organizations on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a boy for years, starting in 2011.
For the past year and a half he has been working as a drama teacher at Costa Mesa High School.
Brandon Jacob Nease, of Orange, was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 22 at the school on suspicion of felony child molestation.
The victim was 13 years old at the time the molestation occurred and only recently reported the alleged crimes, said Orange County sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Braun. Braun said she could not release more details about the crimes or where they took place because of the ongoing investigation.
Nease has taught dance and theater at various organizations, officials said.
From 2008 to 2016, he was the choreographer and director at Musical Theater Village in Irvine; from 2012 to 2015 he was the dance specialist at Camp James in Newport Beach; in 2013 he taught dance at the Boys and Girls Club in Tustin and Fountain Valley; and from 2015 to 2017 he was at Musical Theatre West in Long Beach.
Newport-Mesa Unified School District officials said Nease has been put on administrative leave.
“Based on information provided to us by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, we do not believe this matter involves any current or former Newport-Mesa Unified School District students,” the district said in a statement.
The man posted $100,000 bond Wednesday morning and was released.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Special Victims Detail at 714-647-7419. Those who want to stay anonymous can contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.