- Marc Edgar Alexander Cameron, a dance studio owner, faces abuse allegations.
- Cameron is accused of inappropriately touching young girls enrolled in his dance program.
- Police fear Cameron may flee, citing past incidents and international ties.
COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — A dance studio owner and instructor has been arrested after allegedly abusing young girls enrolled in his program.
Marc Edgar Alexander Cameron, 46, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Sunday for investigation of three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
At least two girls, now teenagers, reported being inappropriately touched by Cameron several years ago, according to a police booking affidavit.
"The victims in this case were in elementary (school) at the time (Cameron) committed the offenses," the affidavit states.
The investigation began in February when a girl told police her alleged abuse happened in 2019. She said, while attending his dance studio, Cameron took her into his office, locked the door, put her on his lap and inappropriately touched her, according to the affidavit.
"Another occasion, the victim had a private lesson with (Cameron) at the studio in Cottonwood Heights. (He) showed the victim a hip-hop piece with the victim on his lap … (and) asked the victim to take off her shirt," the affidavit states.
In May, investigators talked to a second teen girl.
"The second victim disclosed on one occasion she was scared to get out of the car when she arrived for dance. (Cameron) came out to the car, picked her up and put her on his hip, and took her to his office. (He) closed the door and locked the door behind them" and inappropriately touched her, according to the affidavit.
"Multiple witnesses were interviewed during the investigation, and they disclosed other inappropriate behaviors exhibited by (Cameron). Some of the behaviors included sending direct messages to the minor girls via social media, spending time with juveniles who attended the dance studio and (his) dance crew outside of the confines of dance, and speaking about his personal problems to the juveniles. (Cameron) sent some of the minor girls' social media posts that contained sexually suggestive material," the affidavit states.
According to police, Cameron in January admitted to officers "he had multiple juvenile females sit on his lap in his office at the studio he owned."
Cameron "has known ties to the United Kingdom and Jamaica," and police fear he will flee if released on bail, the affidavit states.
"According to information obtained during the investigation, it was alleged (he) had intimate relations with a 16-year-old when he resided in the United Kingdom" and fled the country once an investigation was started and has "altered the spelling of his name since he relocated to Utah," police stated in their affidavit.
