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SoCal Swim Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sex Charges

SANTA ANA (AP) — A Southern California swim instructor has pleaded guilty to charges that he had an unlawful sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.

Orange County prosecutors say 37-year-old Todd Robert Sousa will serve 16 months in state prison after agreeing to an offer to plead guilty to 13 felony counts of lewd acts on a child and other allegations. He was sentenced Friday.

Sousa is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with the girl between April 1, 2010 and Feb. 18, 2011, when he co-owned and taught at Swim Venture, a Laguna Hills-based company that offers lessons in leased pools throughout Orange County.

During the sentencing hearing, the victim's mother and stepfather said the abuse left the girl depressed said Sousa's actions have ruined their lives.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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