Piano Teacher Allegedly Flees US After Conviction For Sexually Abusing Teen

John Kaleel, a 69-year-old Hollywood piano teacher, allegedly fled the country on October 8, the same day a jury convicted him of sexually abusing a 15-year-old student. Kaleel, originally from Australia, was found guilty of five counts of sexual abuse. His lawyer, Kate Hardie, reported not hearing from him since the day before the verdict.

The case involved disturbing accusations. The victim told authorities that Kaleel asked to measure his genitalia when he was 15 and later convinced him to engage in inappropriate activities over a FaceTime call. Court records also revealed that Kaleel invited the teen to smoke marijuana and engage in oral sex.

Kaleel's website claimed he taught Hollywood professionals' children, but the testimonials have since been removed. Some creators denied endorsing him. After pleading guilty initially to avoid a harsher sentence, Kaleel was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement but later challenged his deportation successfully in 2019.

Dmitry Gorin, a former L.A. County prosecutor, noted that while rare, defendants sometimes flee before sentencing to avoid prison. Kaleel's current whereabouts remain unknown, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has not commented on the situation.