Swim Coach Charged With 13 Counts of Lewd Acts Upon a Child

A swim coach on suspicion of having sex with one of his teenage students will be arraigned Friday on 13 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, three felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, and two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The Orange County district attorney charged Todd Robert Sousa, 36, of Irvine on Wednesday. If convicted, Sousa faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in state prison.

The arraignment will take place at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.  The time and department have not been determined.

Prosecutors say that at the time of the alleged crimes, Sousa co-owned and taught swim classes for Swim Venture, a South Orange County-based swim school that offered lessons at leased pools for children and adults throughout the county. Sousa was arrested at, where according to the aquatics director, Sousa was teaching a swim team for Aquazots, which rents the JSerra pool for several hous a day.

Authorities say the defendant met 15-year-old Jane Doe while working as her swim instructor. He is accused of "grooming" the victim and having unlawful sexual contact with her, including kissing and touching her breasts and vaginal area over her clothes.

Between April 1, 2010, and Feb. 18 of this year, prosecutors say, Sousa  escalated the unlawful sexual conduct by acts including digital penetration, oral copulation and sexual intercourse on several occasions. He is accused of sexually assaulting the girl in the Swim Ventures office, in an equipment closet and in his car.

On Feb. 18, prosecutors say, Sousa picked up Jane Doe and her friend from the Irvine Spectrum and drove them to the Swim Ventures office. He is accused of providing alcohol to the young women before taking Jane Doe into another room to have sex with her while her friend waited outside.

Jane Doe's parents learned of Sousa's alleged sexual relationship with their daughter from the parents of one of her friends and contacted law enforcement, authorities said.

Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is asked to call investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.