A prominent piano teacher who instructed the children of Hollywood figures has fled the United States after a Los Angeles jury convicted him on five counts of sexual abuse. John Kaleel, an Australian national, disappeared from the country while jurors were still deliberating his fate, with the verdict being delivered on October 8, 2025.
The disappearance of Kaleel, a popular instructor known for his high-profile clientele, has prompted prosecutors to seek an extradition warrant for his arrest, aiming to bring him back to face sentencing.
A Jury’s Verdict and a Fugitive’s Flight
On October 8, 2025, a West Los Angeles jury found John Kaleel guilty of multiple counts of committing lewd acts with one of his students. The conviction came after a trial detailing disturbing allegations of abuse that occurred in 2013. However, Kaleel was not present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced; he had already absconded from the United States. According to court records and statements from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Kaleel slipped out of the country while the jury was in the process of reaching its decision, leaving authorities scrambling to locate him.
Kaleel’s attorney, Kate Hardie, stated she last saw her client on October 7, 2025, the day before the verdict, and has had no contact with him since. The Sheriff’s Department has not disclosed where they believe Kaleel may have fled to, but court documents confirm the filing of an application for an “Extradition/Fugitive Hardcopy Warrant.”
The Fall of a Renowned Piano Instructor
For over a quarter-century, John Kaleel built a reputation as a highly sought-after piano teacher in the Los Angeles area. His website, prior to recent events, boasted testimonials from well-connected Hollywood professionals who praised his ability to connect with their children. Clients reportedly included the families of creators behind critically acclaimed television series such as ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Orange Is the New Black,’ as well as Emmy-award-winning animation director Genndy Tartakovsky. Kaleel’s instruction was described as instrumental in the musical development of students who went on to pursue their own music careers.
However, this successful facade began to crumble under the weight of serious allegations.
A Troubled Legal and Immigration History
Kaleel’s legal troubles are not new. In 2016, he pleaded no contest to a similar charge of committing a lewd act with a teenage student. This plea, however, was a strategic move that he later fought to overturn. His primary motivation for challenging the conviction was to avoid deportation, as a felony conviction would have significant immigration consequences for him as an Australian national who was a lawful permanent resident. Prosecutors retried the case after the plea was overturned, and during the pendency of the retrial, Kaleel was released on his own recognizance.
His immigration status had been precarious, with records indicating he had been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and faced removal proceedings. His former immigration attorney noted that attempts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deport him were eventually abandoned after he successfully challenged the order at the Board of Immigration Appeals in 2019.
The Ongoing Pursuit
The conviction and subsequent flight of John Kaleel present a complex legal challenge for authorities. The prosecution’s efforts to secure his extradition signal a commitment to ensuring he is held accountable for the crimes of which he has been found guilty. The case also brings to light the recurring issue of defendants absconding from justice, particularly in high-profile cases, leaving victims and their families in prolonged uncertainty.
As the news of Kaleel’s conviction and escape circulates, the focus shifts to international cooperation and law enforcement’s ability to apprehend fugitives across borders. The legal proceedings against Kaleel, which began with allegations of abuse dating back to 2013, have now entered a new, urgent phase as he remains at large.
