Philadelphia dance troupe leader faces child sex assault charges
WEST PHILADELPHIA -- A Philadelphia dance troupe leader has been arrested on child sex assault charges.
Twenty-eight-year-old Tyree Dumas of West Philadelphia, the founder and CEO of the Dollarboyz headquartered in 54th and Market streets, faces three separate counts of sexual assaults on children and related charges including endangering the welfare of children.
Police say one of the charges stems from a case they investigated last month; the other two charges are from a 2013 case which, they say, involved alleged assaults dating back to 2008 when the accusers were 11 and 13 years old.
Police say the charge against Dumas from this summer that triggered the arrest came from an 8-year-old boy who was a member of the latest version Dollarboyz dance team.
One of the victim's mothers says she trusted Dumas and now feels betrayed.
"It's sickening, it's sickening and it hurts my heart that my son got to go through this," the mother said.
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According to authorities, the building that housed the Dollarboyz headquarters is also Dumas' home address; he was arrested at that same address.
There was no answer at the Dollarboyz building on Tuesday.
Neighboring merchants were in shock to hear of Dumas' arrest.
"I've been hearing of the Dollarboyz for over ten years now and they've been nothing but a positive group for the community," Dani Love of Royal Mane Boutique said. "They pretty much keep the kids out of trouble. So, to hear something like this is really shocking."
Dumas is out of jail and free on bail.
Police say they are continuing to look for other victims.
