Los Angeles, CA – The sentencing of Zeta “Jimmy” Dhanapanth to 235 years and eight months to life in prison for the repeated sexual assault of two boys he tutored has brought critical attention to the vulnerabilities children face in educational support programs. As personal injury attorneys serving Orange County communities, Easton & Easton is committed to raising awareness about the rights of survivors and the importance of holding both perpetrators and negligent organizations accountable for failures in child protection.

Details of the Conviction and Sentencing

On July 19, 2025, 53-year-old Zeta “Jimmy” Dhanapanth was sentenced by Orange County Superior Court Judge Larry Yellin to 235 years and eight months to life in prison. Dhanapanth was convicted on May 8, 2025, of a dozen felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor younger than 14 and one count of possession of child pornography.

The jury found true sentencing enhancements for multiple victims and substantial sexual conduct, reflecting the serious and repeated nature of the crimes. Dhanapanth, who represented himself during trial after dismissing his court-appointed attorney, showed no remorse and attempted to portray his young victims as liars.

The crimes occurred over several years, from when the victims were 8 and 9 years old until they were 13 and 14, representing sustained abuse during critical developmental years. This extensive sentence ensures that Dhanapanth will never again have the opportunity to harm children.

Systematic Grooming and Manipulation Tactics

The evidence presented at trial revealed disturbing details about Dhanapanth’s systematic grooming and manipulation of his young victims. According to Deputy District Attorney Sarah Rahman, Dhanapanth employed calculated tactics to normalize abuse and maintain control over the children:

Gift-Giving and Bribery: Dhanapanth gave Lego gifts to one victim and played a manipulative game where he would “buy him whatever he wanted” if the child would “be nice to me” – meaning allow sexual abuse to occur.

Pornographic Desensitization: He showed pornographic videos to victims on his phone during “every tutoring session,” initially twice weekly and then four times weekly, to normalize sexual content and desensitize the children to inappropriate sexual behavior.

Isolation and Control: The abuse occurred at both a community center and inside a van he borrowed from a roommate, creating isolated environments where he could victimize the children without detection.

Surveillance Measures: Dhanapanth set up a surveillance camera at the community center to alert him if anyone approached, demonstrating premeditation and awareness that his actions were criminal.

These tactics represent a textbook case of predatory grooming, where an adult systematically breaks down a child’s natural boundaries and resistance to abuse through manipulation, gifts, and gradual escalation of inappropriate behavior.

Exploitation of Vulnerable Children in Educational Programs

Particularly disturbing is how Dhanapanth specifically targeted vulnerable children through educational support programs. He worked at the Anaheim Indepencia Center from 2012 through 2016 and volunteered for the School on Wheels program, which provides tutoring services to the homes of needy students.

These programs serve children who are often already facing significant challenges:

  • Economic disadvantage requiring free or subsidized tutoring
  • Educational struggles that make them dependent on adult help
  • Family instability that may reduce supervision and support
  • Language barriers or immigration status that may create additional vulnerability

Dhanapanth exploited these vulnerabilities, specifically targeting children he knew were in difficult circumstances. He described one victim as having been “abandoned” by his parents and cared for by grandparents, and noted the child’s immigration challenges. Rather than providing the educational support these children desperately needed, he used their vulnerability to facilitate abuse.

Institutional Oversight Failures in Tutoring Programs

This case raises serious questions about the oversight and safeguarding measures in place at the organizations where Dhanapanth worked and volunteered. The abuse continued for years across multiple settings, suggesting significant failures in supervision and child protection protocols.

Effective safeguarding in educational support programs should include:

Comprehensive Background Screening: Thorough criminal background checks and reference verification for all staff and volunteers working with children

Supervision Requirements: Clear policies prohibiting one-on-one interactions in isolated settings and requiring transparent, observable tutoring environments

Child Protection Training: Regular training for all staff and volunteers on recognizing grooming behaviors and reporting requirements

Safe Environment Policies: Physical spaces designed to ensure visibility and prevent isolation of children with adults

Regular Monitoring: Ongoing supervision and check-ins with families and children receiving services

The fact that Dhanapanth was able to show pornographic material to children during tutoring sessions and regularly isolate them for abuse suggests these basic safeguarding measures were either absent or inadequately implemented.

The Courage of Survivors and Impact of Testimony

The conviction was made possible by the extraordinary courage of the two young survivors who came forward to report the abuse. According to testimony, one victim eventually confided in someone who lived with his family, who then informed the victim’s mother, leading to the police report.

The impact of the abuse and subsequent legal proceedings on these children cannot be overstated. Deputy District Attorney Rahman noted that one victim required hospitalization for mental health treatment after being cross-examined by Dhanapanth, who represented himself at trial. This highlights the additional trauma that can occur when survivors are forced to confront their abusers in court.

During the search of Dhanapanth’s home, investigators discovered evidence that corroborated the victims’ accounts and revealed the extent of his predatory interests:

  • 16 videos of child pornography
  • More than 70 sexually explicit stories about children and adults
  • Web searches about legalizing pedophilia
  • Legos constructed in sexual positions
  • Sex toys

This evidence supported the victims’ testimony and demonstrated Dhanapanth’s ongoing interest in exploiting children.

Legal Rights for Survivors of Educational Program Abuse

Survivors of sexual abuse in educational programs have important legal rights under California law. The California Child Victims Act has expanded opportunities for survivors to seek justice through civil litigation, even in cases where criminal prosecution has concluded.

Under recent legal reforms, survivors can pursue civil lawsuits against:

Individual Perpetrators: Tutors and educational staff who committed abuse, seeking compensation for extensive harm Educational Organizations: After-school programs, tutoring services, and community centers that failed to protect children Supervising Entities: Organizations that provided oversight or funding for programs where abuse occurred

These legal actions can address institutional failures including:

  • Inadequate background screening and hiring practices
  • Failure to implement proper supervision and child protection policies
  • Negligent oversight of staff and volunteer interactions with children
  • Inappropriate response to reports or warning signs of abuse
  • Lack of training on recognizing and preventing abuse

Civil litigation provides compensation for therapy, medical expenses, educational impacts, and long-term emotional consequences. Children who experience abuse in educational settings often struggle with trust issues, academic performance, and relationships with authority figures that can persist into adulthood.

Easton & Easton’s Commitment to Supporting Survivors

At Easton & Easton, we have extensive experience representing survivors of sexual abuse in cases involving educational programs, tutoring services, and other youth-serving organizations throughout Orange County and California. We understand the unique challenges faced by children who have been victimized in settings where they should have received support and education.

Our approach focuses on providing compassionate legal representation while also connecting clients with appropriate therapeutic resources and victim advocacy services to support their healing journey. We recognize that survivors of abuse in educational settings often experience complex trauma that affects their academic achievement, trust in authority figures, and long-term educational goals.

The substantial sentence in this case reflects the serious nature of these crimes and the lasting harm inflicted on young victims. However, it also underscores the critical need for comprehensive reform in how educational support programs screen, supervise, and monitor those who work with vulnerable children.

Children seeking educational support deserve safe environments where they can learn and grow without fear of exploitation. This requires ongoing vigilance from parents, educational organizations, and the broader community to identify and address potential threats to child safety.

The accounts shared here underscore the critical need for continued vigilance and accountability regarding the safety of children within our Orange County and Los Angeles communities. At Easton & Easton, attorney Saul Wolf remains dedicated to leveraging his extensive experience in cases of sexual abuse to pursue justice for those who have been harmed.

His work reflects a steadfast commitment to thoroughly investigating institutional failures such as Church Entities (including the Roman Catholic Church), Private Schools and Public School Districts (including LAUSD), Youth Servicing Organizations (including Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCAs) Youth Sports Organizations and National Governing Bodies (including USA Water Polo, and USA Cheer) and advocating for survivors.