State Supreme Court Won't Review Case Against Well-Known Salsa Instructor

The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to review the case against a well-known salsa dancer, instructor and choreographer who was convicted of raping one woman and assaulting another.

The defense had petitioned the state's highest court to examine the case against Alex Da Silva, who was sentenced in January 2012 to 10 years in state prison.

Da Silva -- who worked on the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" -- was convicted in September 2011 of one count of forcible rape for an August 2002 attack on a 22-year-old woman he met through dance classes.

He was also convicted of one count of assault with intent to commit rape involving a March 28, 2009, attack on a 25-year-old woman, but was acquitted of forcible rape.

Da Silva was arrested Aug. 18, 2009, at his home in the Cahuenga Pass near North Hollywood and Studio City, and has remained in jail since then.

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury deadlocked on four other charges, including another charge stemming from the March 2009 attack and the alleged rapes of two other women in 2004 and 2005. Those counts were dismissed when he was sentenced.

In August, a three-justice panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld his conviction.

--City News Service