http://www.myfoxny.com/story/17431690/child-molester-runs-karate-school
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Child Molester Runs Karate School
Posted: Feb 15, 2010 10:51 PM EST
There have been plenty of tough laws passed to protect kids from child molesters. But Fox 5 discovered a convicted child molester named Edwin Rodriguez, running a karate school in Glendale, Queens and having close contact with young children every day.
Fox 5 received an anonymous tip that a registered sex offender was the owner of a place called Gem Shotokan Karate on Myrtle Avenue. Using a hidden camera Fox 5 immediately established that Rodriguez not only was teaching young children but that he seemed extremely friendly and likeable to both kids and adults.
A sign on the Karate school wall ironically says, “Seek Perfection of Character.” But Edwin Rodriguez is far from perfect. Nine years go Rodriguez was convicted of sexually abusing an 11 year old girl. The details of the criminal complaint against Rodriguez are startling, graphic and uncomfortable to read. It says, “…(i) defendant did attempt to kiss informant(the girl) on the lips and attempted to stick his tongue into informant's mouth while informant pushed defendant away; (ii) that defendant began touching informant's breasts and vaginal area over her clothing while informant pushed defendant away; and (iii) defendant then placed his hand under informant's clothing and forcibly inserted his finger into informant's vagina while informant pushed defendant away."
Records show Rodriguez spent six months in jail and was sentenced to five years probation. His probation ended three and a half years ago.
He is labeled at level 2 sex offender, considered a “medium” risk to repeat.
He has to register where he lives, not where he works.
When a Fox 5 went to the school posing as someone interested in the place here’s part of the conversation:
Fox 5: “My buddy has a daughter who’s 11 is that good?
Rodriguez: “Sure definitely she would be with the next division...she would be with the youth division.”
Fox 5: “So what are the age brackets that you would teach?
Rodriguez: well from three up…”
While we were there he taught a class filled with children. There was another instructor with him and we have to stress that there is no evidence that we know of that Rodriguez has done anything to the children in his Karate school. Several parents were also in the school at the time, watching the class take place.
But none of that is comfort to Laura Ahearn, The Executive Director of Parents for Megan’s law, a community watchdog group she says,“ We are deeply concerned because this is a guy who targeted a minor and he's put himself in a position in the community where everybody thinks he's the pied piper...which makes him really dangerous. Sex offenders have the highest rate of recidivism compared to any other violent felons released into the community and what makes this guy so dangerous is that truly if he did do this in his past and he wanted to avoid any controversy he wouldn't be working with children.”
The school’s website has dozens of pictures of children at the school, some of the pictures have Rodriguez posing with the kids. No one made the connection between his pictures on the Karate School website with his picture on the sexual offender website.
Even though he’s a registered sex offender, there doesn’t seem to be any rules that prevent him from working with children at his school. Rodriguez is off probation. He doesn't have a job with children that requires a license like a teacher or health care worker that would require a criminal background check…There’s even a law that prevents Ice Cream men from being registered sex offenders.
So we decided to ask Rodriguez about his situation:
John Deutzman: “Somebody brought to our attention that you're a registered sex offender and your running this school and they are concerned about it”
Rodriguez: “I'm helping my wife out with the school yeh...I’m not uh.. I don't know what to tell you.. you know it was just circumstances that happened you know I made a mistake in the past and I'm definitely not a child molester I'm definitely not a pedophile.”
John Deutzman: “What happened here then?” (Referring to the paperwork)
Rodriguez: “At this moment I don't care to elaborate on this unless I have some kind of counseling from my attorney or something.”
John Deutzman: “What can you say to the parents who might be concerned because the dilemma is you're a registered sex offender according to the State of New York and you're teaching kids.”
Rodriguez: “Well I’m teaching mostly adults my wife teaches the kids everything is done with supervision”
John Deutzman: “I think you teach the kids though too correct?”
Rodriguez: “Well but everything is under supervision.. my wife and I run the school but I also have other adults who are involved.”
John Deutzman: “You can't be a teacher…you can't sell ice cream.. you understand why people are concerned?”
Rodriguez: “Understandable… perfectly understandable…you know I can see why everyone would be concerned about this...I can assure you…as I stand right here in front of god that it's nothing really to be concerned about in terms of what transpired before and what's going on now.”
But Laura Ahearn says,
“Rodriguez forced himself on an 11 year old female and inserted his finger in her private area this is a dangerous individual that no parent want to have around their children.”
Laura Ahearn’s group is now in the process of notifying and offering counseling the parents who go to this karate school. Fox 5 sought the advice of experts thought this whole investigation and we chose let the professionals handle exactly how the parents should be told about the situation.
---
LINK TO PARENTS FOR MEGANS LAW:
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/welcome.jsp
RESOURCES:
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/public/helpLinks_nationalVictimResources.html
SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY:
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/offender/searchAgreement.jsp
---
Parents For Megan's Law and the Crime Victims Center Resources
Local Agencies Providing Counseling Services:
Safe Horizon, Child Advocacy Center, Individual and group therapy, forensic interview and exam & referrals.
718-575-1342 Web site: www.safehorizon.org
Garden of Hope, child and adult counseling, support groups & legal advocacy.
718-321-8862 Web site: www.gohny.org
St. Vincent’s Hospital, adult and child therapy, criminal justice support advocacy, information & referrals.
212-604-8068 Web site: www.build9.medseek.com/websitefiles/SaintVincent
Partners, Trauma therapy, child and family counseling.
718-990-2367 Web site: www.stjohns.edu/partners
Steinway Child and Family Services, Child and Family Counseling.
718-389-5100 Web site: www.steinway.org
Catholic Charities, Glendale Mental Health Clinic, counseling services.
718-456-7001 Web site: www.ccbq.org/mentalhealth
Hotlines
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
1-800-656-HOPE Web site: www.rainn.org
NYPD Special Victims Unit to report a crime:
212-267-RAPE Web site: www.nyc.bov/html/nypd
Additional Resources
Parents for Megan’s Law and the Crime Victims Center, resources and referrals.
631-689-2672 Web site: www.parentsformeganslaw.org
Joyful Heart, website & referrals
212-475-2026 Web site: www.joyfulheartfoundation.org
Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/17431690/child-molester-runs-karate-school#ixzz2pjcnNWDJ
Follow us: @myfoxny on Twitter | Fox5NY on Facebook
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Child Molester Runs Karate School
Posted: Feb 15, 2010 10:51 PM EST
There have been plenty of tough laws passed to protect kids from child molesters. But Fox 5 discovered a convicted child molester named Edwin Rodriguez, running a karate school in Glendale, Queens and having close contact with young children every day.
Fox 5 received an anonymous tip that a registered sex offender was the owner of a place called Gem Shotokan Karate on Myrtle Avenue. Using a hidden camera Fox 5 immediately established that Rodriguez not only was teaching young children but that he seemed extremely friendly and likeable to both kids and adults.
A sign on the Karate school wall ironically says, “Seek Perfection of Character.” But Edwin Rodriguez is far from perfect. Nine years go Rodriguez was convicted of sexually abusing an 11 year old girl. The details of the criminal complaint against Rodriguez are startling, graphic and uncomfortable to read. It says, “…(i) defendant did attempt to kiss informant(the girl) on the lips and attempted to stick his tongue into informant's mouth while informant pushed defendant away; (ii) that defendant began touching informant's breasts and vaginal area over her clothing while informant pushed defendant away; and (iii) defendant then placed his hand under informant's clothing and forcibly inserted his finger into informant's vagina while informant pushed defendant away."
Records show Rodriguez spent six months in jail and was sentenced to five years probation. His probation ended three and a half years ago.
He is labeled at level 2 sex offender, considered a “medium” risk to repeat.
He has to register where he lives, not where he works.
When a Fox 5 went to the school posing as someone interested in the place here’s part of the conversation:
Fox 5: “My buddy has a daughter who’s 11 is that good?
Rodriguez: “Sure definitely she would be with the next division...she would be with the youth division.”
Fox 5: “So what are the age brackets that you would teach?
Rodriguez: well from three up…”
While we were there he taught a class filled with children. There was another instructor with him and we have to stress that there is no evidence that we know of that Rodriguez has done anything to the children in his Karate school. Several parents were also in the school at the time, watching the class take place.
But none of that is comfort to Laura Ahearn, The Executive Director of Parents for Megan’s law, a community watchdog group she says,“ We are deeply concerned because this is a guy who targeted a minor and he's put himself in a position in the community where everybody thinks he's the pied piper...which makes him really dangerous. Sex offenders have the highest rate of recidivism compared to any other violent felons released into the community and what makes this guy so dangerous is that truly if he did do this in his past and he wanted to avoid any controversy he wouldn't be working with children.”
The school’s website has dozens of pictures of children at the school, some of the pictures have Rodriguez posing with the kids. No one made the connection between his pictures on the Karate School website with his picture on the sexual offender website.
Even though he’s a registered sex offender, there doesn’t seem to be any rules that prevent him from working with children at his school. Rodriguez is off probation. He doesn't have a job with children that requires a license like a teacher or health care worker that would require a criminal background check…There’s even a law that prevents Ice Cream men from being registered sex offenders.
So we decided to ask Rodriguez about his situation:
John Deutzman: “Somebody brought to our attention that you're a registered sex offender and your running this school and they are concerned about it”
Rodriguez: “I'm helping my wife out with the school yeh...I’m not uh.. I don't know what to tell you.. you know it was just circumstances that happened you know I made a mistake in the past and I'm definitely not a child molester I'm definitely not a pedophile.”
John Deutzman: “What happened here then?” (Referring to the paperwork)
Rodriguez: “At this moment I don't care to elaborate on this unless I have some kind of counseling from my attorney or something.”
John Deutzman: “What can you say to the parents who might be concerned because the dilemma is you're a registered sex offender according to the State of New York and you're teaching kids.”
Rodriguez: “Well I’m teaching mostly adults my wife teaches the kids everything is done with supervision”
John Deutzman: “I think you teach the kids though too correct?”
Rodriguez: “Well but everything is under supervision.. my wife and I run the school but I also have other adults who are involved.”
John Deutzman: “You can't be a teacher…you can't sell ice cream.. you understand why people are concerned?”
Rodriguez: “Understandable… perfectly understandable…you know I can see why everyone would be concerned about this...I can assure you…as I stand right here in front of god that it's nothing really to be concerned about in terms of what transpired before and what's going on now.”
But Laura Ahearn says,
“Rodriguez forced himself on an 11 year old female and inserted his finger in her private area this is a dangerous individual that no parent want to have around their children.”
Laura Ahearn’s group is now in the process of notifying and offering counseling the parents who go to this karate school. Fox 5 sought the advice of experts thought this whole investigation and we chose let the professionals handle exactly how the parents should be told about the situation.
---
LINK TO PARENTS FOR MEGANS LAW:
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/welcome.jsp
RESOURCES:
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/public/helpLinks_nationalVictimResources.html
SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY:
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/offender/searchAgreement.jsp
---
Parents For Megan's Law and the Crime Victims Center Resources
Local Agencies Providing Counseling Services:
Safe Horizon, Child Advocacy Center, Individual and group therapy, forensic interview and exam & referrals.
718-575-1342 Web site: www.safehorizon.org
Garden of Hope, child and adult counseling, support groups & legal advocacy.
718-321-8862 Web site: www.gohny.org
St. Vincent’s Hospital, adult and child therapy, criminal justice support advocacy, information & referrals.
212-604-8068 Web site: www.build9.medseek.com/websitefiles/SaintVincent
Partners, Trauma therapy, child and family counseling.
718-990-2367 Web site: www.stjohns.edu/partners
Steinway Child and Family Services, Child and Family Counseling.
718-389-5100 Web site: www.steinway.org
Catholic Charities, Glendale Mental Health Clinic, counseling services.
718-456-7001 Web site: www.ccbq.org/mentalhealth
Hotlines
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
1-800-656-HOPE Web site: www.rainn.org
NYPD Special Victims Unit to report a crime:
212-267-RAPE Web site: www.nyc.bov/html/nypd
Additional Resources
Parents for Megan’s Law and the Crime Victims Center, resources and referrals.
631-689-2672 Web site: www.parentsformeganslaw.org
Joyful Heart, website & referrals
212-475-2026 Web site: www.joyfulheartfoundation.org
Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/17431690/child-molester-runs-karate-school#ixzz2pjcnNWDJ
Follow us: @myfoxny on Twitter | Fox5NY on Facebook