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Certain professions require close physical contact between a professional and other people. Doctors and sports coaches are good examples of workers who fall into that category. There are times when what is intended to be innocent contact can be misconstrued and seen as unwelcome, or even criminal. A martial arts instructor from east of Toronto stands accused of sexual assault after an alleged incident involving one of his students.
The instructor, a 32-year-old man, teaches jiu jitsu in Courtice, a small community outside the GTA. It is alleged that a strong friendship developed over the past three years between the man and one of his students, a girl who is now 16 years old. This friendship is reported to have “intensified” recently.
According to Durham Regional Police, the man touched the girl in an inappropriate manner while visiting her at home. Officers arrested the man on Dec. 21, and held him for a bail hearing. He is facing charges of sexual exploitation, sexual assault and luring a person under 18. His bio on the website for the martial arts school where he teaches has recently been removed.
For any person, but especially for a teacher with a family, a sexual assault accusation may have damaging repercussions both personally and professionally. Serious charges such as these require equally serious defence in a courtroom. For any man or woman who is facing the frightening prospect of a trial for sex crimes, the best course of action might be to contact an experienced lawyer. His or her previous dealings with similar cases before the Toronto courts may help to bring a favourable outcome.
Source: Toronto Sun, “Durham martial arts instructor charged“, Terry Davidson, Dec. 21, 2016