BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Hovanes John Jihanyan, a 41-year-old piano teacher from Beverly Hills, has been arrested and charged with the sexual abuse of a teenage student, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred between August 1 and November 9, during which the victim turned 14 years old.
The charges against Jihanyan include continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old, forcible oral copulation of a minor victim over 14, sexual penetration of a minor under 16, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16, sodomy of a child under 16, and lewd acts upon a child age 14 or 15. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 29 years in state prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Jihanyan was taken into custody on December 12 and is currently being held at Men’s Central Jail on a bail of $1 million. His arraignment is scheduled for January 15 at the Airport Courthouse.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman expressed his horror at the alleged abuse, stating, “I am appalled by these horrific acts of sexual abuse against a vulnerable child.” He emphasized the commitment of his office to prosecute child abuse cases aggressively and seek justice for victims and their families. Hochman also indicated that there may be additional victims and encouraged anyone with related information to come forward.
Individuals with information regarding this case are urged to contact Detective Lizette Hardgrave at 310-458-2256, Sgt. David Haro at 310-458-8952, or the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427. Community members are reminded of the importance of vigilance in protecting children and reporting suspicious behavior to authorities.
