Behind the Badge
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department arrested a 43-year-old tutor named Zeta Dhanapanth who worked at an after-school program in Anaheim.
In February, a 16-year-old male told police that when he was between the ages of 10 and13 he was tutored by Dhanapanth, who would molest him on a regular basis at Anaheim Independencia Center or in a van parked near the center.
A second 16-year-old victim was identified and told police he was also molested by Dhanapanth at the tutoring center when he was younger.
Dhanapanth (AKA Jimmy) was arrested March 6 and booked into jail on one count of lewd and lascivious acts on a child, one count of sodomy on a child, one count of oral copulation on a child, and one count of aggravated sexual assault on a child. His bail is set at $250,000 and he is set to be arraigned today.
In addition to being a self-employed tutor, Dhanapanth was a volunteer at the Anaheim Independencia Center from 2012–2016. The Anaheim Independencia Center catered to the Spanish-speaking community. Dhanapanth tutored children struggling with the English language and math.
Orange County Sheriff’s investigators believe there may be additional victims. If you believe you or your child may have been a victim, please contact OCSD’s Special Victims Unit at (714) 647-7419.
