By Gina Yarbrough
Carlsbad, CA–The Carlsbad Police Department announced the arrest of a former dance instructor following an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving teenage students at dance studios in Carlsbad and San Marcos.
According to police, the investigation began in December 2025 after an adult woman reported that she had been sexually abused by her former dance instructor while attending classes as a teenager at a studio in the 6000 block of Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad.
During the course of the investigation, detectives identified two additional adult women who reported experiencing similar abuse while taking dance classes at the same studio during their teenage years.
Police identified the suspect as Darnay Luckie, 39, of Encinitas. Authorities said he was arrested on April 29 in connection with the investigation.
Investigators said Luckie acknowledged working as a dance instructor at multiple studios between 2011 and 2017. Detectives confirmed he was employed at Carlsbad Performing Arts Academy and DanceFX during that period.
Police said the investigation remains active and detectives believe additional victims may not yet have come forward.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Detective Paige Haar with the Carlsbad Police Department at 760-579-2824 or by email at Paige.Haar@carlsbadca.gov.
