Former Dance Instructor Arrested Following Sexual Abuse Investigation in Carlsbad
CARLSBAD, CA – The Carlsbad Police Department has arrested a 39-year-old Encinitas resident following an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving former dance students. The inquiry began in December 2025, when an adult female reported to authorities that she had been abused by her former instructor while she was a teenager attending classes at a studio in the 6000 block of Avenida Encinas.
As the investigation progressed, detectives identified two additional adult female victims. Both individuals reported experiencing similar abuse while they were teenagers enrolled at the same Carlsbad dance studio.
The suspect has been identified as Darnay Luckie, also known as Ledarnay Luckie Fontenette. He was taken into custody by the Carlsbad Police Department on April 29, 2026. According to investigators, Luckie Fontenette confirmed he was employed as a dance instructor at several locations between 2011 and 2017. Authorities have verified his employment at both the Carlsbad Performing Arts Academy in Carlsbad and DanceFX in San Marcos during that period.
The Carlsbad Police Department believes there may be other individuals who were affected and have not yet come forward. The investigation remains active as detectives work to identify any additional victims.
Members of the public with information pertinent to this case or regarding the suspect’s employment history are asked to contact Detective Paige Haar. She can be reached via telephone at 760-579-2824 or through electronic mail at Paige.Haar@carlsbadca.gov.
