Alex Da Silva of 'So You Think You Can Dance' Sentenced to 10 Years For Rape

By Kris Coombs, Christian Post Contributor Friday, January 27, 2012

Choreographer Alex Da Silva of FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a former dance student and assaulting another student, TMZ reported on Friday afternoon.

In 2009, Da Silva was arrested and charged with multiple felonies from allegations that he raped and sexually assaulted four women that were all former dance students of his between 2003 and 2009. The women ranged between 20 and 26 years of age.

Da Silva, 43, was convicted of just one count of rape and one count of assault with intent to commit rape, TMZ reported.
The remaining charges were dismissed following a jury deadlock.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy presided over Da Silva's case and denied his defense's motion for a new trial. Kennedy also ordered the choreographer to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

A statement posted on his website opposed the lifetime penalty.

"Once he completes the sentence, Alex will be required to register with police as a sex offender every year on his birthday for the rest of his life. Failure to do so could result in lifetime prison commitment. No person, regardless of whether he treated others kindly, fairly, or with respect, should suffer such terrible consequences for acts he is not guilty of committing."

"[Da Silva] does not respect women," Kennedy said in court, adding that he "believes he is entitled to do whatever he wants when he wants."

Da Silva, a native of Brazil, has appeared on the first four seasons of the "So You Think You Can Dance" reality competition.

Oddly enough, Da Silva is not the only choreographer from the show to face such charges.

Former "So You Think You Can Dance" choreographer and former judge on "America's Best Dance Crew," Shane Sparks, pled "no contest" to a felony charge of sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl in August.

Melvin Shane Sparks was given 270 days in prison for the unlawful act. The plea deal allowed Sparks to avoid eight other felony charges, according to legal documents OnTheRedCarpet.com obtained.