Volunteer Teacher, 30, Accused Of Online Lewd Acts With Underage Boys

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)   — Authorities said a 30-year-old volunteer teacher accused of lewd acts with two boys was charged Friday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Steven Joseph Mesplou of Harbor City has been charged with six felonies: four counts of lewd act upon a child and two counts of contact with a minor for sexual offense.

Mesplou is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 20 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Long Beach.

Prosecutors said Mesplou, a volunteer teacher at St. Margaret Mary Alcoque Catholic Parish in Lomita, is accused of chatting up a teenage boy on an online video website.

While on the site, the defendant allegedly posed as a 15-year-old girl and had his male victim perform sexual acts for him to view. During this time, Mesplou also instructed the teenage boy's 8-year-old brother to expose himself, according to the DA.

The victims' mother learned about what allegedly happened on line and subsequently contacted authorities.

Mesplou was arrested on Jan. 21 in connection with the allegations. He has posted bond.

If convicted of the charges, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars.