Music Teacher Awaits Hearing on Charges of Attempted Lewd Acts with 11-Year-Old

Music teacher Joseph Lee Hedderich of Culver City is awaiting a court hearing on accusations that he sent an 11-year-old girl inappropriate messages and photographs. He was arrested on Sept. 1 in Pacific Palisades, but then was released on Sept. 2 after posting $100,000 bail. 

According to the Los Angeles Times, the girl's parents found her cellphone—which Hedderich allegedly supplied—and contacted the police. Officers pretended to be the girl and continued to contact Hedderich. He was arrested when he showed up for a prearranged sexual encounter with the girl, according to authorities. 

Police say that Hedderich is an independent musical contractor at the Westside Academy of Dance, the California Institute of the Arts and the Los Angeles Ballet, reports the Times. He is not employed by the Culver City Unified School District. 

Click to read the Times story.