Former dance teacher gets 10 years in prison for abusing students
NORWICH – A former dance instructor, Travis St. Denny, 28, of Norwich, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday after admitting his guilt relating to the molestation of one of his students, and encouraging another to make pornographic material.
District Attorney Joseph McBride said the case involved the touching of at least one victim and the solicitation of several other underage dance-youths to either engage in sexual acts or send the defendant inappropriate images.
McBride said the investigation involved at least seven victims and expanded activities over the last 10 years, when St. Denny worked as a dance instructor at the Perkins School of the Arts in Norwich. He pleaded guilty in July to two counts of criminal sexual act and promoting an obscene performance of a child; all D-class sex-crime felonies.
As part of a wider national awareness campaign, the district attorney's office along with several other officials, victims and family members wore blue clothes or displayed blue ribbons to show support for victims of child abuse.
“This case has torn this community apart,” said McBride, explaining the incident had rocked local perception of the well-known, local, dance studio.
“Some people can't see how horrendous these crimes are, and there are some who will never forgive. Many in the community will never have the same relationship with the studio they once did.”
Two of the victims spoke in court during the proceedings and one had a statement read to the court.
THE VICTIMS SPEAK OUT:
The first victim to speak told the court:
“Travis, this would have been the year I shared my reflections of being a senior,” he said, “But instead I am reading my victim impact statement to you.”
The victim said he felt anger and guilt for having trusted his teacher saying, “my parents placed me in the care of a person who may molest me.”
The victim said that since the incident came to light he was unable to share his dance experiences and accomplishment with fellow classmates and peers out of fear of being stigmatized. As an example he told the court was his opting away from mentioning dance memories in his yearbook.
“You deserve more than 10 years in prison,” he said. “All the kids are victims here, because you violated all of our trust.”
The second victim to speak in court said:
“I want to thank a lot of people in the community. For the last 6 months, they've given great community support,” he said. The victim decided not to read a prepared statement in court and instead spoke directly to St. Denny, even asking the defendant to look him in the eye during his remarks. St. Denny turned and faced him.
“I love Travis with all my heart,” he said, “I care about him a lot and I still do.”
“I think Travis in this case is a good person wearing a villain's name tag.”
“He wants to help. He wants to do something with his life. Travis needs a lot of help. He needs 10 years in prison.”
The victim talked about the emotional toll on himself and other students at the dance school who were still coming to terms with what took place. The victim admitted to having harmed himself as a result of the case becoming public, and the stress it was placing on his family.
“I really think Travis deceived us all. We put a lot of faith and love in him.”
“His actions have influenced more than just boys,” he said. “There is a lot of denial, a lot of blaming other people, a lot of deception, a lot of unanswered questions. When you target young boys you target the community.”
The victim paused for a moment in court and looked directly at St. Denny, saying, “Looking you in the eye––you can't tell me what you did wasn't wrong. I see it, I know, you know, you were wrong.”
The last victim to make a statement in court asked prosecutors to read a prepared letter he wrote.
He said he was a student at the dance studio several years ago and had been abused for four years. He called himself a survivor of child abuse.
He describe Travis as, “being a dance teacher at a small town dance studio who was trusted by the local community.” He explained how young students were influenced by, “the intoxicating environment of annual recitals,” and of inappropriate events, “hidden backstage, behind the spotlight.”
He stated as a young boy he didn't understand the power his teacher had over him or how it could be abused.
“He used his position as teacher to facilitate improper discussion.”
The victim claimed that St. Denny had asked underage students about their sex lives, started conversations about intimate personal habits, and asked them to describe their personal anatomy.
“Horrible things that can happen behind the smiles and bright lights when no one is paying attention,” he stated. “The studio put profits above concern for children.”
The victim criticized how St. Denny had been release on bail and claimed the defendant remained active with some of the dance studio's students and parents, concluding those actions showed a lack of remorse for his actions.
“We in the community are sending the wrong message to those being abused.”
“I am haunted by the idea of him being around children,” he stated, “The victims have a life sentence.”
JUDGE AND SENTENCE:
Judge Downey said, “The case is about betrayal by their teacher,” and involved “more than half a dozen people in their formative years.”
The judge noted that young teens were exploited because they feared rejection, expulsion from the dance school, and sought praise from teachers.
Downey told St. Denny he deserved prison for four main reasons: punishment for what he's done; to deter him from committing acts in the future, to deter others in the community, and to offer St. Denny a chance at redemption.
St. Denny cried throughout court. His defense attorney, Benjamin Bergman of Binghamton, said the defense had included 22 letters of support on St. Denny's behalf. Including letters from educators and dance studio parents.
Addressing the court St. Denny said, "I am so incredibly sorry for the pain I've cause and for the tears I've caused.”
“I hope after today people can heal, people can move forward,” said St. Denny. He turn toward the victims in the courtroom, sitting behind the prosecutor, and said, “I am so sorry, so sorry.”
The judge said St. Denny had been getting voluntary mental health treatment while he was on bail and ordered he continue counseling in prison. The judge said St. Denny would become a registered sex offender and issued an order of protection to remain away from the victims for the longest period allowed under state law: 28 years.
The judge called the victims heroes, saying their courage in the case would “prevent untold numbers of victims” from falling to the same fate.
Downey issued St. Denny two five-year prison terms, one for each criminal sex act charge, for a ten-year total sentence. The sentence was part of a plea-arrangement with prosecutors. The incidents occurred in May of 2010, according to the indictment.
The judge also handed down a sentence of between one and three years for promoting an obscene performance of a child, but the ten-year sentence will supersede it. That charge involved St. Denny encouraging a sexual performance by a child, using video in July 2015, according to the indictment.
The judge also noted that St. Denny accepted responsibility for the crimes and had expressed regret, before passing sentence.
Upon St. Denny’s initial arrest, Downey set bail at $20k, which was posted that same day, and the defendant has been out on bail since.
St. Denny was remanded to prison immediately following the proceedings. He was handcuffed and taken by officers from the courthouse.
He was first arrested in March by the Norwich Police Department, after authorities were notified by the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment Hotline. The Chenango County Sheriff's Office also participated in the investigation.
PERKINS DANCE STUDIO REACTION:
Contacted by The Evening Sun Wednesday after court, Amber Perkins, owner of Perkins School of the Arts dance studio spoke about her remorse and shock.
“I feel so horrible for the kids. He needs to be punished,” she said.
She expressed concern the incidents involving St. Denny could permanently damage or destroy the dance school.
“It is devastating. He was terminated from the first allegation,” she said.
Perkins said she held discussions with both students and parents over the incidents and was providing resources for students to get counseling or report any issue through child protective services. She also said the studio had put new codes of conduct in place for instructors.
Following the phone interview the dance school released a statement:
“The entire family of Perkins School of the Arts is saddened today upon the sentencing of a former teacher as a result of serious criminal acts.
"When allegations of criminal misconduct were made earlier this year, this teacher was immediately terminated from his employment with the dance studio. The well-being of our students has always been, and remains, our foremost concern."
District Attorney Joseph McBride said the case involved the touching of at least one victim and the solicitation of several other underage dance-youths to either engage in sexual acts or send the defendant inappropriate images.
McBride said the investigation involved at least seven victims and expanded activities over the last 10 years, when St. Denny worked as a dance instructor at the Perkins School of the Arts in Norwich. He pleaded guilty in July to two counts of criminal sexual act and promoting an obscene performance of a child; all D-class sex-crime felonies.
As part of a wider national awareness campaign, the district attorney's office along with several other officials, victims and family members wore blue clothes or displayed blue ribbons to show support for victims of child abuse.
“This case has torn this community apart,” said McBride, explaining the incident had rocked local perception of the well-known, local, dance studio.
“Some people can't see how horrendous these crimes are, and there are some who will never forgive. Many in the community will never have the same relationship with the studio they once did.”
Two of the victims spoke in court during the proceedings and one had a statement read to the court.
THE VICTIMS SPEAK OUT:
The first victim to speak told the court:
“Travis, this would have been the year I shared my reflections of being a senior,” he said, “But instead I am reading my victim impact statement to you.”
The victim said he felt anger and guilt for having trusted his teacher saying, “my parents placed me in the care of a person who may molest me.”
The victim said that since the incident came to light he was unable to share his dance experiences and accomplishment with fellow classmates and peers out of fear of being stigmatized. As an example he told the court was his opting away from mentioning dance memories in his yearbook.
“You deserve more than 10 years in prison,” he said. “All the kids are victims here, because you violated all of our trust.”
The second victim to speak in court said:
“I want to thank a lot of people in the community. For the last 6 months, they've given great community support,” he said. The victim decided not to read a prepared statement in court and instead spoke directly to St. Denny, even asking the defendant to look him in the eye during his remarks. St. Denny turned and faced him.
“I love Travis with all my heart,” he said, “I care about him a lot and I still do.”
“I think Travis in this case is a good person wearing a villain's name tag.”
“He wants to help. He wants to do something with his life. Travis needs a lot of help. He needs 10 years in prison.”
The victim talked about the emotional toll on himself and other students at the dance school who were still coming to terms with what took place. The victim admitted to having harmed himself as a result of the case becoming public, and the stress it was placing on his family.
“I really think Travis deceived us all. We put a lot of faith and love in him.”
“His actions have influenced more than just boys,” he said. “There is a lot of denial, a lot of blaming other people, a lot of deception, a lot of unanswered questions. When you target young boys you target the community.”
The victim paused for a moment in court and looked directly at St. Denny, saying, “Looking you in the eye––you can't tell me what you did wasn't wrong. I see it, I know, you know, you were wrong.”
The last victim to make a statement in court asked prosecutors to read a prepared letter he wrote.
He said he was a student at the dance studio several years ago and had been abused for four years. He called himself a survivor of child abuse.
He describe Travis as, “being a dance teacher at a small town dance studio who was trusted by the local community.” He explained how young students were influenced by, “the intoxicating environment of annual recitals,” and of inappropriate events, “hidden backstage, behind the spotlight.”
He stated as a young boy he didn't understand the power his teacher had over him or how it could be abused.
“He used his position as teacher to facilitate improper discussion.”
The victim claimed that St. Denny had asked underage students about their sex lives, started conversations about intimate personal habits, and asked them to describe their personal anatomy.
“Horrible things that can happen behind the smiles and bright lights when no one is paying attention,” he stated. “The studio put profits above concern for children.”
The victim criticized how St. Denny had been release on bail and claimed the defendant remained active with some of the dance studio's students and parents, concluding those actions showed a lack of remorse for his actions.
“We in the community are sending the wrong message to those being abused.”
“I am haunted by the idea of him being around children,” he stated, “The victims have a life sentence.”
JUDGE AND SENTENCE:
Judge Downey said, “The case is about betrayal by their teacher,” and involved “more than half a dozen people in their formative years.”
The judge noted that young teens were exploited because they feared rejection, expulsion from the dance school, and sought praise from teachers.
Downey told St. Denny he deserved prison for four main reasons: punishment for what he's done; to deter him from committing acts in the future, to deter others in the community, and to offer St. Denny a chance at redemption.
St. Denny cried throughout court. His defense attorney, Benjamin Bergman of Binghamton, said the defense had included 22 letters of support on St. Denny's behalf. Including letters from educators and dance studio parents.
Addressing the court St. Denny said, "I am so incredibly sorry for the pain I've cause and for the tears I've caused.”
“I hope after today people can heal, people can move forward,” said St. Denny. He turn toward the victims in the courtroom, sitting behind the prosecutor, and said, “I am so sorry, so sorry.”
The judge said St. Denny had been getting voluntary mental health treatment while he was on bail and ordered he continue counseling in prison. The judge said St. Denny would become a registered sex offender and issued an order of protection to remain away from the victims for the longest period allowed under state law: 28 years.
The judge called the victims heroes, saying their courage in the case would “prevent untold numbers of victims” from falling to the same fate.
Downey issued St. Denny two five-year prison terms, one for each criminal sex act charge, for a ten-year total sentence. The sentence was part of a plea-arrangement with prosecutors. The incidents occurred in May of 2010, according to the indictment.
The judge also handed down a sentence of between one and three years for promoting an obscene performance of a child, but the ten-year sentence will supersede it. That charge involved St. Denny encouraging a sexual performance by a child, using video in July 2015, according to the indictment.
The judge also noted that St. Denny accepted responsibility for the crimes and had expressed regret, before passing sentence.
Upon St. Denny’s initial arrest, Downey set bail at $20k, which was posted that same day, and the defendant has been out on bail since.
St. Denny was remanded to prison immediately following the proceedings. He was handcuffed and taken by officers from the courthouse.
He was first arrested in March by the Norwich Police Department, after authorities were notified by the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment Hotline. The Chenango County Sheriff's Office also participated in the investigation.
PERKINS DANCE STUDIO REACTION:
Contacted by The Evening Sun Wednesday after court, Amber Perkins, owner of Perkins School of the Arts dance studio spoke about her remorse and shock.
“I feel so horrible for the kids. He needs to be punished,” she said.
She expressed concern the incidents involving St. Denny could permanently damage or destroy the dance school.
“It is devastating. He was terminated from the first allegation,” she said.
Perkins said she held discussions with both students and parents over the incidents and was providing resources for students to get counseling or report any issue through child protective services. She also said the studio had put new codes of conduct in place for instructors.
Following the phone interview the dance school released a statement:
“The entire family of Perkins School of the Arts is saddened today upon the sentencing of a former teacher as a result of serious criminal acts.
"When allegations of criminal misconduct were made earlier this year, this teacher was immediately terminated from his employment with the dance studio. The well-being of our students has always been, and remains, our foremost concern."
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