Las Vegas

2 IE Dance Instructors Arrested, Accused of Sex Acts With Children

He was the second dance instructor charged with having sex with a child in two

A San Bernardino County dance instructor was arrested Saturday on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a young girl, the second such arrest of a dance instructor in two weeks.

Thomas Cook, 22, teaches dance at two dance studios in San Bernardino County, according to the county sheriff's department, and regularly travels to competitions, including regularly to New York and Las Vegas.

He is accused of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a 13-year-old girl, first reported Friday. Because the Victorville native travels for work, investigators suspect he may have had contact with more victims.

Cook teaches at Dance Dynamics in Hesperia and a studio in Upland, detectives said.

Cook's arrest came just over a week after Jorge Tapia, 49, was arrested on similar charges, sheriff's deputies said.

Tapia allegedly had sexual contact with a child under 10 years old and worked as a private dance instructor in the Rancho Cucamonga area. He was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 30, and is being held on $1 million bail, deputies said..

Investigators ask anyone with information about Cook or who may have been a victim to call 760-947-1500.

Anyone with information about Tapia is asked to call 909-477-2800.

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