NYPD Police Officer Is Charged With Rape of His Karate Student, 14

As a martial artist and former instructor this is the kind of story that makes me nuts! And it's unfortunately not the first instance I've known of a karate instructor doing this. I knew of a case personally in Pittsburgh when I was a student in the 80's and I've read of this numerous times in the news including a case where a distraught father shot and killed in an airport a karate instructor being brought back by cops.

Karate instructors can be powerful figures to kids with titles of master and vows of loyalty and obedience. Hell I've known some stupid adults who almost worship them as gods and power-hungry instructors who demand that worship. Parents don't trust anyone and make sure those who teach and mentor your kids aren't abusing them!

A New York City police officer has been arrested on charges of raping a 14-year-old girl who studied martial arts at his home in Middletown, N.Y., and at his martial arts school in New Jersey, the authorities said on Friday.

The officer, Trent Young, 39, was suspended without pay and stripped of his gun and badge after he was arrested at 4 a.m. Thursday by Middletown police officers who pulled him over as he was driving to his city job, officials said.

Officer Young is assigned to the 26th Precinct, in Upper Manhattan, and has been a police officer for nine years, said Lt. Patrick M. Freeman, a spokesman for the Middletown Police Department. He said the officer, who is married, was formerly a schoolteacher.

The child, who is now 15, came forward with her parents on Dec. 21, the police said. The child said that she became a student at Officer Young’s martial arts school in the summer of 2004, the police said, and that when she reached the green-belt level of her training, in December 2005, the officer had her sign an oath of obedience and take her clothes off. He then sexually abused her, the police said.

From 2006 through October 2007, Officer Young had sex with the girl 20 to 40 times at various locations, including at his home on Maple Drive and at the dojo, or martial arts school, he operates in West Milford, N.J., said Lieutenant Freeman. Calls to the school on Friday were not returned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/29/nyregion/29cop.html?ref=nyregion