A Torrance man was charged Tuesday with 10 counts of child sexual abuse for allegedly molesting multiple children through his job as a professional youth chess coach, the Torrance Police Department announced Wednesday.
Michael Angelo Purcell Sr. owned “Think Chess” in Torrance, which offered private lessons, overnight chess camps and after-school programs for children, a news release from the police department stated.
Purcell was formally charged Tuesday with seven counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, three counts of sexual abuse of a child under 11 as well as a sentencing enhancement for multiple victims, according to the release.
He was being held on a $2 million bail pending further legal proceedings, the release stated.
Purcell has taught chess in Torrance and throughout the Los Angeles area for years.
Because of his past access to numerous children, police were asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the Torrance Police Department Detective Division at 310-618-5570.
