Police Seek More Victims After Sexual Assault Arrest of Melvin Shane Sparks NR09590ah

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department detectives from Van Nuys Division arrested 40-year-old Melvin Shane Sparks on a felony warrant charging him with sexual assault on a child.  Investigators believe there may be more victims out there and are asking them to come forward.

Sparks has been the subject of an ongoing child molestation investigation and was taken into custody on Dec. 18 at his apartment in North Hollywood, located in the 10900 block of Bluffside Drive.

He was charged with lewd conduct with a child under 14, two counts of sexual intercourse with a minor and two counts of oral copulation with a minor.  Sparks was booked at Van Nuys jail and his bail was set at $590,000.  

Sparks is a dance teacher at the Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood.  He also served as a judge on the MTV show "America’s Best Dance Crew" and as a choreographer on the television show "So You Think You Can Dance."

Anyone with information about these crimes is urged to contact Van Nuys detectives at 818-374-0052.  During non-business hours or on weekends calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD." Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.