N.J. Martial Arts Instructor Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 13-Year-Old Female Student
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – A New Jersey martial arts instructor is behind bars Friday, accused of sexually assaulting a student and police fear there could be other possible victims.
The co-owner of a martial arts academy in Springfield Township, 27-year-old George Mendoza-Valentino, was charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child after prosecutors said he repeatedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl at the studio, CBS2's Dave Carlin reported.
Mendoza-Valentino is also accused of sending the victim sexually explicit images and videos of himself.
"I can't believe that. I've seen him in the dojo teaching the children and I've never seen anything like that between his behavior to the children," Springfield Township resident Heyward Barr said.
Merchants with stores on the same block as the dojo told CBS2 that Mendoza-Valentino has worked there for several years, seems to be very outgoing and has a steady girlfriend.
Prosecutors would not say how police became aware of the alleged crimes and added the investigation was ongoing.
"This is a really low-key town. You can do good business here, good people here, and now you've got a sex scandal. It's got to rock it," resident Bobby Goins said.
"People are going to be worrying, 'Do I trust these people now?' Especially in martial arts because that's a big thing for kids to do," fellow resident Nick Pek added.
Mendoza-Valentino is being held at the Union County Jail in Elizabeth on $125,000 bail.
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