CLEVELAND — A former Cuyahoga County dance teacher who pleaded guilty to multiple charges for sexual assaults that happened between 2013 and 2017 while working at a dance studio in Parma will spend the next 15 years behind bars.
Desmond Beasley, 36, was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to a slew of charges in early March.
According to authorities, Beasley texted and used social media to send sexually explicit photos and chats to minors. Investigators said they found child pornography in Beasley’s email account in February 2021.
They said he also used his photography career to lure victims into taking inappropriate photos. Some of those photos were taken while the victims were minors.
Court records show Beasley has pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Disseminating matter harmful to juveniles - two counts
- Gross sexual imposition - two counts
- Rape - two counts
- Attempted rape - one count
- Gross sexual battery - two counts
- Illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance - one count
- Pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor - one count
“Desmond Beasley violated his primary duty as a teacher. Instead of caring for his students, he used his position of trust to prey upon them,” said Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. “I hope his conviction and sentence provides some peace and justice for his victims and sends a stern message that this vile behavior will not be tolerated.”
RELATED: Former Parma dance teacher pleads guilty to sexual assault charges
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