Busted Martial Artists

[AJM]

"screw you and your canoes!"

(anyone know that joke?)

A WW11 Newfy joke. Well done .

[SifuAbel]

Sifu Abel...I remember Neal back in the day. Say wasn't he the wanna be BJ/CMA?? guy that was a pedo and got busted? How any years has that been anyway? I don't think he was a legitimate instructor or anything, but with the exception of yourself and a few others how many on this board really are?

He molested that girl IN an MA school. But that will happen anywhere you have a congregation of unsupervised children. Predators know where to hunt.

How many clergymen does it take to screw in a light bulb?
























Ask the alter boy.

[GeneChing]

It was a slow week...

Bend martial arts teacher faces rape, abuse charges
Posted: Feb 14, 2008 05:00 PM
By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM

A 32-year-old Bend martial arts instructor faces rape, sex abuse and other charges involving a 15-year-old female student at his now-closed facility, police said Thursday.

Sgt. Paul Kansky confirmed after NewsChannel 21 received an anonymous tip that Mark William Froelich was arrested last Friday afternoon at the police headquarters on three counts of third-degree rape, two counts of third-degree sodomy and four counts of third-degree sex abuse.

Froelich was booked into the Deschutes County jail but released on his own recognizance that same day because he met the criteria for release, a jail officer said.

The charges are "Class C felonies because they don't involve force," Kansky said.

"We received anonymous information that this relationship (with the student) was sexual in nature," Kansky told NewsChannel 21. "We contacted the victim and suspect and conducted interviews," leading to the arrest.

A closed sign was posted Thursday on the door of Froelich's Bend Karate for Kids, at 162 NW Greenwood Ave., where he also ran Froelich's ATA Black Belt Academy, according to a Website. "Thank you for your patience," the sign said.

Kansky said the alleged crimes were "fairly recent in nature" and that police moved their investigation along quickly, in a matter of days.

The ATA Black Belt Academy Website describes Froelich as a second-degree black belt and says the academy has been offering tae kwon do instruction and training since 2004.

[GeneChing]

...more of a legal quagmire that some sort of horrid crime like most of the previous posts. It sets an interesting precedent for how the martial arts businesses are defined by the law.

Martial arts studio kicked out for good
In its denial, Planning Commission says owner needs child care license for its program
by Janet Pelletier
Pleasanton Weekly Staff


A martial arts studio on Quarry Lane has been shut down indefinitely after the Planning Commission ruled 5-0 its owner would need to get a child care license before it would consider it.

The Tri-Valley Martial Arts Academy shuttered last month after the city determined that the scope of operations at the studio were different than what owner John Pfund described to them initially.

The business, located at 1262-A Quarry Lane, opened last July after it obtained what the city termed an "over the counter" zoning certificate. But the city soon realized that a new law that went into effect the same month meant the studio needed a conditional use permit, and they contacted the studio to correct the mistake. After a back-and-forth battle, city staff recommended that the commission deny the permit because the martial arts activities resembled more of a day care than and after school program.

The decision was crushing to Pfund, who said his passion for life comes from teaching youths the principles of martial arts.

"I've wanted to do this since I was 10 years old," he said.

"I've never told anyone it's a day care," Pfund said. "I don't provide supervision or care."

Pfund said his studio is no different than after school gymnastics, dance and swim programs and should be considered by the same rules.

Parents of children who went to the martial arts school agreed with Pfund, reiterating that he never told them it was a day care and that they never considered it one. The Tri-Valley Martial Arts Academy has left an indelible mark in their children's lives, they said.

"My 5-year-old daughter has really come out of her shell," said parent Amy Fluker.

Another mother said she was amazed at what her son learned about respect in such a small amount of time.

At the Wednesday meeting, commissioners said while they have no hesitations that Pfund is a great leader and role model to the children he teaches and that the martial arts program was exceptional, it didn't erase the fact that the longer hours of operation and regimented daily schedule falls into a day care category, which requires a state child care license.

"I have no doubt that John's a good teacher," Commissioner Jennifer Pearce said. "I'd like to see this succeed, but the way it's currently structured, I can't support it."

Commissioner Arne Olson added that the studio's practice of picking children up from school gives more of an element of care.

"The way to solve this would be to get a license," he said.

Pfund had been operating Tri-Valley Martial Arts under a 'free to come and go' policy--meaning students weren't required to be signed in and out by their parents which is how a day care would operate. But the city has a policy of requiring facilities to sign children in and out, according to city principal planner Donna Decker.

Under Pfund's policy, "children at any age would be free to come and go," Decker said. "Parents would sign a waiver, but the child would not be required to be signed out by an adult."

There were some inconsistencies with how the state viewed the situation. Initially, the State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division told the city that Pfund would be required to get a child care license because children would be at the facility for more than an hour and a half and attending more than 16 hours per week. Other activities such as supervised homework also factored into the decision. However, the state revised that ruling following additional information it received from Pfund about the center's activities and determined a license wasn't necessary under an exemption that Pfund has parents sign a waiver stating the academy isn't a day care. The city said it disagrees with that decision because the exemption applies only to older children. The studio would be teaching children as young as 5 years old.

The vote commissioners made was a "denial without prejudice," which means that Pfund would be able to come back to the commission with a revised business proposal that includes a child care license. If the commission had denied the permit outright, Pfund would have to wait one year before bringing his proposal back. He has another option as well. He can appeal the Planning Commission's decision to the City Council.

[Oso]

I've been saying this for a while now...many of the afterschool programs are defacto day cares but w/o the certification and oversight that a day care must have to operate safely...and that's why there are so many of these busted teachers. I think we'll see more and more of this sort of action by city and state govornment and it will probably take a serious toll on the 'industry'

[GeneChing]

cjurakpt posted this on post 2 of this thread. I only remembered because Excel...

Karate instructor arraigned on child-sex charges
BY ANDREW STRICKLER | andrew.strickler@newsday.com
February 26, 2008

A karate instructor who was once "revered" in the Long Island martial arts community stood quietly yesterday as prosecutors detailed a 43-count indictment charging him with sex crimes against his young students.

"This is an individual who is a danger to any child he comes in contact with," Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Andrea Groeger said of James Bonfiglio, 37.

He held his mother's hand and pressed his fingers to his lips as he waited for his arraignment in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead.

Through his attorney, Bonfiglio pleaded not guilty before Judge Barbara Kahn.

The indictment for felonies, including making child pornography and unlawful surveillance, stems from relationships that Groeger said Bonfiglio had with 10 boys between 2002 and his arrest in October.

Evidence includes hours of video found on his computer, much of it apparently captured by hidden cameras prosecutors say were found in the bathrooms at his Ronkonkoma apartment and Excel Karate Academy.

Two of those clips show Bonfiglio masturbating with three boys, ages 9 and 14 or 15, in a bedroom in his family's home in Ronkonkoma, Groeger said.

Bonfiglio's computer also yielded a lengthy instant message exchange in which the karate instructor wrote about masturbation with a 13-year-old student and asked the boy to have sex with him, Groeger said.

The arraignment was a step forward after a difficult effort to identify and locate dozens of children who appeared in the videos, prosecutor Keri Herzog said.

Parents confronted with evidence of the crimes were "beyond horrified," she said.

"This was a guy who was revered by kids and their parents," she said. "When they used the term 'sensei,' it wasn't a term they used lightly. It was a term of great respect."

Kahn issued orders of protection for all the boys involved and said she would order Bonfiglio held on $1 million bail. But minutes later, she reversed herself and set bail at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond.

The Bonfiglio family had prearranged a bond of up to $500,000, said Bonfiglio's attorney, Anthony La Pinta of Hauppauge. It was posted before Bonfiglio left the courtroom.

Several women who identified themselves as mothers of some of the young victims appeared shocked at the sudden change. They declined to comment. La Pinta called the bail change "a misunderstanding."

Kahn "wanted to set the bail to the highest level possible they could post," he said.

As part of his supervised release, the judge ordered Bonfiglio to wear a GPS ankle bracelet and to stay away from minors.

[Mook Jong]

noticed something while reading that, Bonfiglio would translate from italian as 'good son'.

[ngokfei]

About time they started shutting down those schools.

The more time a child is at a studio the more it becomes a Day Care/Afterschool and should require a separate license.

Hell I think it should be just a matter of practice for all Martial Arts Schools to be licensed.

Different License Classifications would limit the owner on what they could teach or do in the establishment.

If just one child is protected is enough for me to pass it through as a law.

[Mook Jong]

How so? Would one license let you teach children under, say, 13 while another lets you do full contact sparring? I feel like this is one of those things that is good on paper, but if it got passed and enforced, someone would make it very complicated for no real reason. just my 2 cents

[ngokfei]

Just like you need different license grades for the type of vehicle you drive
standard, motorcycle, limosine (sp), Truck, etc.

Also no different then Personal Trainers, Professional Health Care Providers.

to the situation of Children I'd reference Child Care and Teacher's Licenses.

How Old is the child? toddlers, Pre-school, elementary, etc.


Martial Artists as seen or hope to be recognized as Professionals in their field, so there shouldn't be a problem in following guidleines/requirements.

You mention Full Contact, so wouldn't you want your boxing/wrestling coach to have a teaching license?

[Mook Jong]

Not to sound like a jacka$$ but i would rather my boxing coach have boxing experience than a teaching license. I can see what you mean though, but like i said, i feel like some politician would throw his weight behind it and make it some lengthy process that would force many teachers out of business or to practice illegally without a license.

[ngokfei]

Well its not that far fetched and idea. Its coming sooner than most people think.

Alot of my teachers were not professional teachers at all.

But there has to be some sort of control.

No matter what experience a person has treating the sick I don't we would go to one who didn't have a license.

Also a license means Insurance. Sure that boxing coach could be the best but whats to stop them from giving you some broken ribs just to make you learn the lesson of covering up. Not for everyone.

[1bad65]

I've been saying this for a while now...many of the afterschool programs are defacto day cares but w/o the certification and oversight that a day care must have to operate safely...

This is exactly right. The 2 main parts they skip are the background checks on the owner and staff and also the number of kids allowed. At a day care center there are rules as to the max number of kids per certified adult, while there are no rules as to the ratio of kids to instructors in MA.

[Mas Judt]

Holy cr@p - there should at least be background checks...

I really think child abusers should be arrested exclusively by PRC cops. They can bill the family for the bullet...

[Oso]

at this point in time I don't think there are many restrictions on opening and running a martial arts school anywhere in the US. Some places may require you to get a 'health club' license which may cost more than a generic business license. New Jersey might be the only state with a 'board'. NC has had a bill going around for a while but it keeps dying in committee.

The insurance companies may wade in after a while though a criminal suit for molestation is probably not covered by liability insurance.

on the other side of the coin, there are certainly many out there who are victimizing their students but I wonder how many false accusations get thrown around. Accusation of that sort of thing is often as bad for the person as actually having committed the crime.