Martinez Dance Instructor Accused Of Raping 15-Year-Old Student

MARTINEZ, CA — A 31-year-old man was arrested last week on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl when he was working as a dance instructor at a studio in Martinez, according to police. Detectives allege that Daniel Howarter, a Martinez resident, assaulted the victim in 2012 and 2013 while she was one of his students. He was 25 at the time.

He was arrested June 19 and booked into jail on $75,000 bail, and police say that prosecutors charged him Tuesday with two felony counts of sexual assault.

Anyone with additional information about Howarter's case is asked to call Martinez police at 925-372-3440.

By Bay City News Service

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch