Lake Forest Piano Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Of Lewd Acts, Child Pornography

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A Lake Forest piano instructor arrested on suspicion of molesting or taking obscene photographs of four girls pleaded not guilty Tuesday to more than a dozen felony charges.

John Mordecai Scott, 58, was charged with four counts each of committing a lewd act on a child younger than 14 and lewd acts on a child, two counts of distributing pornography to a minor and a count each of continuous sexual abuse, using a minor for sex acts and possession and control of child pornography, all felonies. Scott also faces a misdemeanor count of child annoyance and a sentence-enhancing allegation of obscene matter used during a sex offense.

Scott was arrested Friday on suspicion of showing and taking lewd photos of an underage female student at his home at 20702 El Toro Road in Lake Forest, where he offers piano instruction, according to Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock. Authorities say they subsequently identified more victims.

Scott also taught at Coast Band Music on Via Fabricante in Mission Viejo and OC Music on Aventura in Rancho Santa Margarita, Hallock said.

If convicted as charged, Scott faces up to 30 years and four months in prison.

Scott remains jailed on $500,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court Aug. 12 for a pretrial hearing.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)