Police say the husband of a theater director in Phoenix "concocted an elaborate scheme" to tie up two teen student-actresses at the theater for his own sexual gratification.
David Harris, a 32-year-old truck driver, admitted to tricking the girls, ages 15 and 18, into being tied up at Xpressions Dance Theatre Music in North Phoenix, citing an "addiction to bondage acts and pornography," according to court documents obtained by New Times.
Although Harris was just arrested last week, the incident actually occurred in mid-April, when Harris told the two girls that another student-actress needed "assistance with her stage presence."
Harris' dramatic plan was to tie up the girls on the stage, then bring this other girl on stage, and tell this other girl that her friends wouldn't be untied until she agreed to be tied up.
For whatever reason, the girls agreed to this, and after everyone left the theater that night, the two girls waited for Harris.
Harris zip-tied the girls' hands behind their backs, then duct-taped their legs, both above the ankles, and above the knees -- court documents note that Harris hiked up the 15-year-old's skirt to duct-tape her legs.
"David then advised the two girls that the other girl was not coming and that they were the ones who needed to work on their stage presence," a probable-cause statement says.
Again, court documents indicate that Harris has been a truck driver for the past seven months, and it's his wife who's one of the directors of the theater.
Harris started talking to the girls -- court filings don't indicate about what -- for the next 45 minutes, until the 18-year-old girl started squirming, and trying to break free from the restraints.
Harris told the girl he would gag her if she kept trying to escape, according to the documents.
Eventually, he let the girls go, telling them to rub away any marks or residue and avoid telling their parents.
Police were eventually informed, and Harris told police last week that he tied up the girls for "sensual/sexual gratification," according to the documents. He said he's seeing a therapist for his "addiction to bondage acts and pornography."
According to the documents, Harris "mentioned that there were other people within his life that he admitted to tying up.
Harris was booked into jail on two counts each of unlawful imprisonment and aggravated assault.
Send feedback and tips to the author.
Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.
