High School Choir Teacher Accused of Impersonating Ariana Grande in Alleged Grooming Scheme

by Chris Peterson

An Oregon high school choir teacher arrested earlier this summer is now accused of creating fake social media accounts, including one impersonating Ariana Grande, as part of an alleged scheme involving one of his students.

Ian Ikaika Imamura worked as the vocal music teacher and choir director at Central High School in Independence, Oregon. He was arrested on July 2 and faces a series of charges, including luring a minor, online sexual corruption of a child, encouraging child sexual abuse, possession of child sexual abuse material, and tampering with a witness.

According to a Facebook post, Imamura was involved with school musicals such as Legally Blonde and Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief. He was also a coach on the football team.

More details about the case surfaced this week after FOX 12 obtained recordings from a July court hearing.

During that hearing, Deputy District Attorney Shannon Clausen said Imamura had allegedly told students he worked as a music producer and had connections to major recording artists, including Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Adele and Lady Gaga.

Prosecutors say Imamura later introduced a 17-year-old student to an online account that appeared to belong to teenage actor Walker Scobell.

Investigators allege Imamura was actually behind the account.

Ian Ikaika Imamura

Scobell himself is not accused of any wrongdoing and had no connection to the case. Prosecutors said representatives for the actor confirmed that he did not know Imamura or the student.

According to prosecutors, the student believed she was developing an online romantic relationship with Scobell.

Authorities say Imamura also created another account that appeared to belong to Ariana Grande. That account allegedly communicated with the student and helped make the other fake identity appear legitimate.

Court records cited by FOX 12 show that Imamura sent the student more than 13,000 text messages over roughly a year and a half.

Investigators also say Imamura bought the student a second phone that she kept hidden from her parents.

Prosecutors allege the online conversations eventually became sexual and that the student sent explicit images and videos after receiving requests from the fake account. Those materials are now part of the criminal case against Imamura.

The investigation began after Central School District officials learned Imamura had been communicating with students outside of school. The district began its own investigation on May 26 and placed him on administrative leave that same day before contacting law enforcement.

Prosecutors say Imamura later asked the student to delete their communications after he learned he was under investigation.

Around the same time, the fake accounts allegedly told the student to delete messages as well. Prosecutors have cited that timing as part of their case that Imamura was controlling the accounts.

Investigators also recovered a second phone belonging to Imamura that prosecutors say had been wiped.

At a July 14 hearing, Imamura's attorney asked that he be allowed to stay with family in Hawaii while the case moved forward. The judge denied the request and ordered him to remain in Oregon.

Imamura had also previously worked as a student teacher at Sherwood Middle School and Sherwood High School during the 2022-23 school year.

After his arrest, Sherwood Police asked anyone with information about their interactions with Imamura during that time to contact investigators.

Authorities have said the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are possible as investigators continue reviewing electronic evidence.