'Dance Crew' Judge Shane Sparks Arrested for Child Molestation

By Chris Jancelewicz Posted Dec 18th 2009 02:50PM

'America's Best Dance Crew' judge Shane Sparks has been arrested in Los Angeles and charged with 8 felony counts of child molestation, TMZ is reporting. The Los Angeles Police Department took Sparks into custody at 8 am PT Friday morning. According to the criminal complaint, the alleged incidents began occurring in 1994 and involve one victim, an under-aged girl.

The complaint accuses the 35-year-old Sparks of engaging in acts "with the intent of arousing, appealing to, and gratifying the lust, passions, and sexual desires of the defendant, who was at least 10 years older than [the victim]."

Sparks -- best known for his past work as a choreographer on 'So You Think You Can Dance' -- is being held on $590,000 bail.

Sparks is actually the second person tied to 'So You Think You Can Dance' who's been in trouble with the law. Earlier this year, his co-star and dancing instructor Alex Da Silva was charged with sexual assault.

He has also worked with artists such as Aaliyah, Monica, and Lindsay Lohan. His work on the 2004 film 'You Got Served' earned him an American Choreography Awards and was nominated for Emmy for 'So You Think ...'

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Shane Sparks Photos

Shane Sparks poses with students Kayla Sanchez (L) and Francisco Espinoza (R) before volunteering to teach dance for EIF's iParticipate campaign at City Lights Youth Theatre on October 23 in New York City. More Pics >>

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Shane Sparks Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: Actor Shane Sparks attends the Debbie Allen Dance Academy's annual fundraiser at UCLA's Royce Hall on December 10, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Sparks

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 23: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Dance Choreographer, Shane Sparks teaches students of City Lights Youth Theater for EIF's iParticipate campaign at City Lights Youth Theatre on October 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Sparks

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 23: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Dance Choreographer, Shane Sparks poses with students Kayla Sanchez (L) and Francisco Espinoza (R) before volunteering to teach dance for EIF's iParticipate campaign at City Lights Youth Theatre on October 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Sparks;Francisco Espinoza;Kayla Sanchez

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 23: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Dance Choreographer, Shane Sparks poses with students and staff members of City Lights Youth Theater before volunteering to teach dance for EIF's iParticipate campaign at City Lights Youth Theatre on October 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Sparks;Francisco Espinoza;Kayla Sanchez

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 10: Choreographer Shane Sparks attends Lil Mama's "My Super Sweet 21st" birthday at Prospect Hall on October 10, 2009 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Sparks

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Tags: alex da silva, AlexDaSilva, americas best dance crew, AmericasBestDanceCrew, shane sparks, ShaneSparks, so you think you can dance, SoYouThinkYouCanDance, sytycd

Comments

(109)

Sunday 20 December

By janice

Vote down Vote up Report this

UI don't believe this ever happened- another case of someone wanting to sue people for money!!

By marci

What ever happenes to innocent til proven guilty?

By mike

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

the pedophile of pop "michael jackson" had a thing for little boyz... 10 or 15 million can pay ur way out the first time... hell even the second and third time, then the world will rally to your side... you will be a great man and no one will remember you as a pedophile. just to be on the safe side have your skin bleached and slam your nose in a limo door

By sara

@ mike
running all over the net spewing your racist hatred. It will soon consume you. You're a vagabond!!

By lisbeth cohan

Phil's a racist-you're just funny!

Wednesday 30 December

By alanchesnee

You need to get your facts straight, or simply quit lying to people and to yourself in all your hatred. The FBI stalked Michael Jackson for a decade and their final analysis: He wasn't a child molester and didn't have any proof that he was. Too often in this country young people look for an easy ticket to easy street, sometimes prodded and coached on how to do so by their parents, by making false allegations against men, for their own depraved purposes, whether money, retaliation, mental problems, emotional dysfunctions...

...whatever. Rarely are any of them proved to be true. Instead, to avoid the high costs of fighting the overwhelming power and unaccountable authority of the so-called 'justice' system, people will simply plea to a lesser charge or pay off the shake-down artists. Unfortunately, the evangelical presidency of George Bush created all this hysteria, while giving special protections to the churches where the vast majority of the child rapes, molestations and domestic violence are occurring and hidden from the public view, especially in the Protestant empire.

That's the fact, Jack.

By christine

some victims who are very young wait many years to tell anyone out of fear....i was 12 when i had a bad experience with a family member, and i was so scared to tell that i waited 20 years... unless you have been a victim you cant understand. dont question thier motives just remember this was a scared child...

By snadcastle

more racism by the white media and courts. If this were a white man, no news. bite me you haters

By RR

typical gangsta thug animal...

FRY his ass!

By jokesl3

The reason they waited is about money. 15 years ago he wasn't worth anything.

Innocent till proven guilty? For those of you asking this, that's too funny. You must never have been charged with anything. For many years now the burden of proof has been placed on the defendent. From speeding tickets to murder charges. The justice system has nothing to do with justice. It's big business.

By BLUQE

Whoa, this guy diserves a job as one of the Obama
white house tsars.He certainly would fit right in with that group of slugs. No problumo.

By judy

Maybe she saw that movie "Precious" and decided it was time to tell.

Bullet to his head in an alley. Leave him for the rats.

By puretexan28

What happen to statue of limitations? I would be hard pressed to convict on these charges because of the time lapse. I thought murder was the only charge that didn't have a limitations.

By BLING

It seems that,if it was about money thay would've done a civil suit to sue him.At any rate,he is finished!May be tiger woods can give him a job

By Linda

Cutting off his sex organs will do nothing to deter a sexual predator. The intent is still there and where there is a will there is a way. There is no punishment in the United States harsh enough to deter these animals.

By Erin

As a victim of child molestation and still going through it. I can relate to how they victim feels because im in the same situation. I hope she gets justice.

By Mary

I'll tell you exactly why she waited so long. "taking a deep breath..here goes."...I was 4 the first time I was raped. 4. I was just adopted into a new family, and when someone touches you, not only are you scared, you're not sure what to do. You feel that the trust you had in someone is now gone. You feel very alone. It wasn't until I was 8 that I finally found the courage to tell my "mom". She didn't believe me. He just laughed.
There are a lot of reasons she may not have told. Maybe she did. And maybe someone laughed at her as well. It takes a strong inner courage to stand up and say..this happened to me. It takes more courage to continue because you are indeed alone in your assualt. Dont be so quick to not believe her. At least until all the facts are brought out.

Monday 25 January

By sgent

I hope you have peace now. I will pray for you. I was raped at 16 so i can relate a little bit.

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