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Daniel Yavitz, 39, of University City was charged Tuesday with sexually abusing a young girl during her piano lessons in his home.

“Mr. Yavitz did confess to this incident,� St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith said. “Although we hope and pray that there are no additional victims, we know it’s possible. So we encourage anyone out there who thinks their child may be a victim to contact law enforcement immediately. As I’ve said multiple times, disclosure leads to healing.�

Price Smith and University City police Lt. Shawn Whitley said they know Yavitz has worked for multiple school districts as a substitute teacher, but on Wednesday didn’t provide which districts and when he worked for those schools. He also advertised online as a nanny, they said.

Whitley did say that Yavitz served as a substitute teacher as recently as last year.

The lieutenant said the child in the case disclosed the abuse to her mother, who contacted authorities. The girl, who was younger than 12 when the abuse happened, disclosed instances of sexual abuse in a forensic interview and that’s when police were contacted.

Price Smith said investigators do not have evidence that there are additional victims, but believe there could be given his role working with children.

“The fact that he taught in a school, that he taught piano lessons to children and advertised as a nanny are basically the red flags,� she said. “Which is why we are concerned there could be additional victims.�

On one website, Yavitz advertises his in-home piano lessons for all ages. He has six 5-star reviews, mostly from parents.

Yavitz was charged with three felony counts of statutory sodomy of a child. The three incidents happened between October 2024 and June 2025.

He was in custody Wednesday on a $300,000 cash-only bond.

He does not have a prior criminal history, Whitley said.