Derry parents often entrust their children to strangers at school and in extracurricular activities. The adults charged with their care and safety often find themselves accused of failing in those duties — sometimes involving criminal charges. A karate teacher here in New Hampshire is likely focused on a criminal defense to charges that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl.
The juvenile was one of his students. Allegedly, the man bit the girl on the neck and touched her in a sexual manner for his own gratification. Even though many would say that the karate studio was placed in an untenable position, the man lost his job of five years, and he has not even been convicted of a crime. The judicial system might be based on the concept of innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but that does not apply in the court of public opinion.
After conducting an investigation, detectives in Nasha obtained a warrant for the 31-year-old man’s arrest. He is facing two counts of felonious sexual assault, along with one count of second-degree assault. The Class B felonies carry potential prison terms of up to seven years. He was also charged with one count of simple assault, which is a misdemeanor that carries up to one year in jail.
Just as anyone here in Derry would be entitled to, this man has the right to a criminal defense. Prosecutors are still bound to provide the court with evidence proving beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty of the charges against him. The ramifications of the charges, let alone a conviction, to his life are serious, and he deserves the chance to dispute them.
Source: unionleader.com, “Nashua karate instructor charged in juvenile sex assault“, Aug. 26, 2016
