Last month, a karate instructor in Montgomery County was accused of sexually assaulting students. Evan Burgess, who is 26 years old and from Blue Bell, was a karate instructor at a local martial arts studio, DeStolfo’s Premier Martial Arts Studio, in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Burgess was accused of sexually assaulting teenage students during sleepovers in the basement of his home and on trips to out of state martial arts tournaments in New York and Maryland. Three minors have come forward so far, and all three reported waking up while sleeping in the same room with the instructor and finding him performing sexual acts on them.
According to prosecutors, Burgess groomed the three minors through interactions during karate lessons and pursued them on social media. The minors’ parents reported the alleged abuse to the studio, and Burgess was fired earlier this year in May.
However, it was not until September, four months after receiving an anonymous tip that Whitpain Township Police and Montgomery County Children and Youth Services began investigating the allegations.
When the investigation finally began, Burgess had already moved to Auburn, Massachusetts and found a job as a karate instructor.
Unfortunately, this incident isn’t the first time that a martial arts instructor has been accused of sexually molesting their students.
Karate Instructor Arrested After Being Accused of Molesting a 7 Year Old Girl in Georgia
In August of this year, a martial arts instructor in Griffin, Georgia was arrested after being accused of molesting a child during summer karate camp. The 50 year old instructor Daniel George allegedly touched a 7 year old girl’s “private area” during a summer camp. The little girl told her mom who then reported to the police. George allegedly told the little girl to promise not to tell her mother about the incident.
Karate Instructor Arrested After Being Accused of Molesting a 15 Year Old Girl in Maryland
In October 2017, another karate instructor was arrested after he allegedly had inappropriate contact with a 15 year old girl. Frank Yul Pugarita is a karate instructor and owned a karate studio in Gaithersburg, Maryland for about 10 years. He allegedly began the inappropriate touching between January and June 2017 during lessons. The police believe that there were additional victims.
Help for Victims After Sexual Assault and Molestation
Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan handles sex abuse cases in the Northeast area with offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Guy D’Andrea and Stewart Ryan always offer free, confidential consultations. The firm has the resources and experience to handle sex abuse cases in all states and welcomes calls from local counsel about potential cases. Call (215) 399-9255.
*Sources:
- Source: philly.com (Feds: Montco karate teacher sexually assaulted students on out-of-state trips)
- fox5atlanta.com (Police: Karate instructor arrested for child molestation)
- wtop.com (Police: Montgomery Co. karate instructor sexually assaulted 15-year-old student)