Former Hermosa Beach Dance School Employee Sentenced to Probation in Hidden Camera Case

A Torrance man who worked as a front desk receptionist at a Hermosa Beach children's dance studio has been sentenced to lifetime sex offender registration after pleading no contest Thursday (January 22) to charges stemming from hidden cameras discovered in the studio's bathroom.

Jourdyn Alexander Godoy, 26, pleaded no contest to one felony count of possession of child pornography and one misdemeanor count of invasion of privacy. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Francis Bennett II sentenced Godoy to lifetime sex offender registration, 52 sex offender classes, 30 days of community labor, and two years of probation.

Godoy received credit for approximately one week served in jail following his June 2025 arrest by Hermosa Beach Police Department. He had initially been held on $100,000 bail before it was reduced to $55,000, which he posted. A third charge, a misdemeanor count of child annoyance, was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

The sentence represents a significant reduction from the maximum four years in state prison Godoy faced when originally charged in June 2025.

From Discovery to Arrest

The case began May 3, 2025, when a parent discovered hidden cameras at the School of Dance and Music's Aviation Boulevard studio in Hermosa Beach. The parent immediately turned off the recording devices and contacted police.

Hermosa Beach police officers responded that day and discovered multiple cameras concealed in wicker baskets inside a unisex bathroom used by students, parents, and employees. The studio served students ranging in age from 2 to 18 years old.

Studio owners Liliana Somma and Dan Galitzen worked closely with investigators and identified Godoy as a potential suspect within the first 24 hours, according to a letter sent to parents and students.

"We are deeply grateful to local law enforcement for their tireless work over the past six weeks," Somma and Galitzen wrote in the email following Godoy's arrest. They confirmed that Godoy was "a former front desk staff member, a young adult in his 20s with no prior criminal history, who is no longer employed at our studio."

Hermosa Beach detectives collaborated with the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a nationwide network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, to build the case.

After a six-week investigation, HBPD officers executed a search warrant at Godoy's Torrance residence on June 14, 2025, where they recovered potential evidence. Godoy was arrested that afternoon and initially held on $100,000 bail.

"We want to thank the business owners for their immediate assistance and transparency in this case," HBPD noted in a news release. "The Hermosa Beach Police Department remains committed in its mission to serve with dedication, integrity, and honesty."

Godoy was formally charged June 17, 2025, with one felony count of possession of child pornography and misdemeanor counts of child annoyance and invasion of privacy. The case was prosecuted by the DA's Cyber Crime Division.

Godoy initially pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 3, 2025, to determine if sufficient evidence existed to proceed to trial. He subsequently changed his plea to no contest Thursday, resolving the case without trial.

At the time of charging, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman issued a strong statement condemning the alleged crimes. "To invade a child's privacy in a place where they should feel completely safe is a grotesque violation of trust, safety, and basic human decency," Hochman said. "We will do everything in our power to hold this individual fully accountable. No child — or adult — should have to worry about being secretly recorded in such a private space."

Sentencing Outcome

The no contest plea resulted in Godoy avoiding the four-year maximum state prison sentence he faced. Instead, Judge Bennett imposed:

• Lifetime registration as a sex offender under California's Megan's Law
• 52 sex offender treatment classes
• 30 days of community labor
• Two years of formal probation
• Credit for one week already served in custody

The dismissal of the child annoyance charge and probationary sentence rather than prison time may raise questions among parents whose children attended the studio about whether justice was adequately served.

Implications for Local Families

The case raised significant concerns among Hermosa Beach families whose children attended the School of Dance and Music. The discovery of hidden recording devices in spaces where minors changed clothing represents a serious breach of trust and privacy.

The lifetime sex offender registration requirement means Godoy's information will remain permanently accessible through California's Megan's Law database, which provides public access to information about registered sex offenders.

Studio Response and Security Overhaul

The incident prompted the School of Dance and Music to implement sweeping security changes. In their letter to parents, Somma and Galitzen detailed the measures taken to prevent future incidents:

• Installation of security cameras in hallways to monitor activity
• Deployment of devices to detect hidden cameras
• Hiring of a security company to inspect both studio locations
• Changing all locks
• Evening security personnel
• Designation of student-only bathrooms

"My heart aches for this horrific violation of our sacred space, a place meant to be a sanctuary for creativity, trust, and community," Somma said in an earlier statement.

Somma, who told ABC7 she had been in business for 25 years and trained thousands of students, acknowledged that the incident led some customers to leave the business. However, the owners emphasized their commitment to the community.

"We are dedicated to ensuring that every SDM location remains a safe and sacred space for our community," Somma and Galitzen wrote to parents.