http://queensda.org/Press%20Releases/2002%20Press%20Releases/10-0ctober/10-21-2002.htm
Tuesday, October 21, 2002
KARATE TEACHER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SODOMIZING BOY STUDENT
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that a martial arts teacher has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sodomizing a 12-year-old boy during karate classes at his Cambria Heights, Queens martial arts school.
District Attorney Brown said, "The defendant admitted his guilt and acknowledged that he had sodomized one of his students -- a 12-year-old boy. The youth was assaulted earlier this year while attending the defendant's karate school. The young man showed admirable courage and character by appearing in court before the sentence was pronounced and he has taken firm steps toward recovery from his ordeal."
District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Paul Edwards, 35, of 232-11 Linden Boulevard, Cambria Heights, who operated a Martial Arts school at 201-06 Linden Boulevard pled guilty to Sodomy in the First Degree before Queens Acting Supreme Court Justice Douglas S. Wong who imposed today's sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Donna M. Golia of the District Attorney's Special Victims Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Marjory D. Fisher, Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Gregory L. Lasak.
Tuesday, October 21, 2002
KARATE TEACHER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SODOMIZING BOY STUDENT
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that a martial arts teacher has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sodomizing a 12-year-old boy during karate classes at his Cambria Heights, Queens martial arts school.
District Attorney Brown said, "The defendant admitted his guilt and acknowledged that he had sodomized one of his students -- a 12-year-old boy. The youth was assaulted earlier this year while attending the defendant's karate school. The young man showed admirable courage and character by appearing in court before the sentence was pronounced and he has taken firm steps toward recovery from his ordeal."
District Attorney Brown identified the defendant as Paul Edwards, 35, of 232-11 Linden Boulevard, Cambria Heights, who operated a Martial Arts school at 201-06 Linden Boulevard pled guilty to Sodomy in the First Degree before Queens Acting Supreme Court Justice Douglas S. Wong who imposed today's sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Donna M. Golia of the District Attorney's Special Victims Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Marjory D. Fisher, Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Gregory L. Lasak.
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-10-22/news/18207550_1_edwards-lawyer-lighter-sentence-abusing
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Karate Teacher Gets 10 Yrs. For Sex Abuse
BY SCOTT SHIFREL DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
A 12-year-old Queens boy who was sodomized by his former karate teacher called him "a monster" just before the man was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday.
"I think that you are a monster. I think that you are a weakling and that I am stronger than you in every aspect of life," the boy said in statement read by the prosecutor.
"I want you to know that in 10 years I will be sitting in a corner of this courtroom putting away people like you," said the boy, who aspires to a career as a prosecutor.
Paul Edwards, 35, of Linden Blvd., Cambria Heights, was arrested in June on charges of sexually abusing two boys, one this year and the other over the last four years
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Karate Teacher Gets 10 Yrs. For Sex Abuse
BY SCOTT SHIFREL DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
A 12-year-old Queens boy who was sodomized by his former karate teacher called him "a monster" just before the man was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday.
"I think that you are a monster. I think that you are a weakling and that I am stronger than you in every aspect of life," the boy said in statement read by the prosecutor.
"I want you to know that in 10 years I will be sitting in a corner of this courtroom putting away people like you," said the boy, who aspires to a career as a prosecutor.
Paul Edwards, 35, of Linden Blvd., Cambria Heights, was arrested in June on charges of sexually abusing two boys, one this year and the other over the last four years
Tae Kwon Do Teacher Accused of Abusing Pupils
Newsday - Jun 21, 2002
A well-liked Queens martial arts academy owner- instructor has been arrested ... could not be reached for comment, could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/127415271.html?dids=127415271:127415271&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+21%2C+2002&author=Peter+Bailey.+STAFF+WRITER&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=Tae+Kwon+Do+Teacher+Accused+of+Abusing+Pupils&pqatl=google
Tae Kwon Do Teacher Accused of Abusing Pupils [QUEENS Edition] Newsday - Long Island, N.Y. Author: Peter Bailey. STAFF WRITER Date: Jun 21, 2002 Start Page: A.35 Section: NEWS Text Word Count: 357 Abstract (Document Summary)
The announcement of [Paul Edwards]' arrest surprised and saddened residents. Cynthia Bannon, owner of Cynthia's Hair Palace, next door to the academy, said the closing of the school would be a loss. "That man gives so much to this neighborhood and the children ... he's there with those kids until midnight every night," she said. Bannon said the academy offers a good after-school alternative for Cambria Heights youths. "He keeps those kids off the street ... I hope what they're saying isn't true," she said.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Buy Complete Document: Abstract Full Text
Newsday - Jun 21, 2002
A well-liked Queens martial arts academy owner- instructor has been arrested ... could not be reached for comment, could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/127415271.html?dids=127415271:127415271&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+21%2C+2002&author=Peter+Bailey.+STAFF+WRITER&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=Tae+Kwon+Do+Teacher+Accused+of+Abusing+Pupils&pqatl=google
Tae Kwon Do Teacher Accused of Abusing Pupils [QUEENS Edition] Newsday - Long Island, N.Y. Author: Peter Bailey. STAFF WRITER Date: Jun 21, 2002 Start Page: A.35 Section: NEWS Text Word Count: 357 Abstract (Document Summary)
The announcement of [Paul Edwards]' arrest surprised and saddened residents. Cynthia Bannon, owner of Cynthia's Hair Palace, next door to the academy, said the closing of the school would be a loss. "That man gives so much to this neighborhood and the children ... he's there with those kids until midnight every night," she said. Bannon said the academy offers a good after-school alternative for Cambria Heights youths. "He keeps those kids off the street ... I hope what they're saying isn't true," she said.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Buy Complete Document: Abstract Full Text
http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2002/26/20020627-archive874.html
Cambria Heights sensei charged in sexual assaults
By Adam Kramer
A Cambria Heights martial arts instructor has been charged with sexually attacking two of his tae kwon do students, the Queens district attorney said last Thursday.
Queens DA Richard Brown said Paul Edwards, 35, the owner of Edwards Tae Kwon D o Academy at 201-06 Linden Blvd. in St. Albans allegedly sodomized one boy and sexually abused the other in separate classes.
Edwards, who lives at 232-11 Linden Blvd. in Cambria Heights, is charged with sodomy, sexual abuse and forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, Brown said. If convicted of the charges, he could face up to 25 years in jail.
“The defendant is alleged to have preyed upon two youngsters, whose parents had entrusted them to his care, and sexually attacking them when he was supposed to be teaching them self-defense skills,” Brown said. “As a result of the defendant’s conduct, the victims have lost their childhood. Hopefully, they are able to recover over time from the deep trauma that they have suffered.”
According to the district attorney’s office, Edwards allegedly sexually abused one boy, now 12, from August 1999 through February 2002. The DA said Edwards’ attacks consisted of oral sodomy, forcible sexual touching and sex abuse.
Edwards allegedly attacked the second boy, who now is 13, from January through May 2002, the district attorney’s office said. He is alleged to have forcibly touched the boy sexually through the boy’s clothing.
Most of the alleged incidents took place at Edwards Tae Kwon Do Academy, the DA’s office said.
Edwards is being held pending his arraignment in Queens County Criminal Court.
R.L. Black, president of the R.L Black Income Tax Service, which is two doors down from Edwards Tae Kwon Do Academy on the store-lined block, said Edwards appeared to be a solid member of the community.
“The only thing he did was to take kids on picnics and keep them off of the street,” he said. “All he did was help the kids in the neighborhood.”
Black said he never saw a child with Edwards late at night and there were no complaints from parents or from the people in the community since the shop opened around 1989. He said Edwards has never caused any trouble on the street.
But Black questioned why was Edwards arrested and charged with a crime when there are 2,000 to 3,000 priests around the country who have admitted to sexual abuse of children and are not locked up?
“Because he was a black man,” he said, answering his own question. “In most cases, a black man is considered guilty until proven innocent even before they go to a grand jury. You are guilty whether or not you are.”
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at [email protected] or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
©2002 Community Newspaper Group
Cambria Heights sensei charged in sexual assaults
By Adam Kramer
A Cambria Heights martial arts instructor has been charged with sexually attacking two of his tae kwon do students, the Queens district attorney said last Thursday.
Queens DA Richard Brown said Paul Edwards, 35, the owner of Edwards Tae Kwon D o Academy at 201-06 Linden Blvd. in St. Albans allegedly sodomized one boy and sexually abused the other in separate classes.
Edwards, who lives at 232-11 Linden Blvd. in Cambria Heights, is charged with sodomy, sexual abuse and forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, Brown said. If convicted of the charges, he could face up to 25 years in jail.
“The defendant is alleged to have preyed upon two youngsters, whose parents had entrusted them to his care, and sexually attacking them when he was supposed to be teaching them self-defense skills,” Brown said. “As a result of the defendant’s conduct, the victims have lost their childhood. Hopefully, they are able to recover over time from the deep trauma that they have suffered.”
According to the district attorney’s office, Edwards allegedly sexually abused one boy, now 12, from August 1999 through February 2002. The DA said Edwards’ attacks consisted of oral sodomy, forcible sexual touching and sex abuse.
Edwards allegedly attacked the second boy, who now is 13, from January through May 2002, the district attorney’s office said. He is alleged to have forcibly touched the boy sexually through the boy’s clothing.
Most of the alleged incidents took place at Edwards Tae Kwon Do Academy, the DA’s office said.
Edwards is being held pending his arraignment in Queens County Criminal Court.
R.L. Black, president of the R.L Black Income Tax Service, which is two doors down from Edwards Tae Kwon Do Academy on the store-lined block, said Edwards appeared to be a solid member of the community.
“The only thing he did was to take kids on picnics and keep them off of the street,” he said. “All he did was help the kids in the neighborhood.”
Black said he never saw a child with Edwards late at night and there were no complaints from parents or from the people in the community since the shop opened around 1989. He said Edwards has never caused any trouble on the street.
But Black questioned why was Edwards arrested and charged with a crime when there are 2,000 to 3,000 priests around the country who have admitted to sexual abuse of children and are not locked up?
“Because he was a black man,” he said, answering his own question. “In most cases, a black man is considered guilty until proven innocent even before they go to a grand jury. You are guilty whether or not you are.”
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at [email protected] or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
©2002 Community Newspaper Group