http://kezi.com/news/local/88249
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Former Bend Karate Instructor Pleads Guilty - UPDATE 3/30- Sentencing
3/30/09 Bend
UPDATE:
On March 30, Mark Froelich is sentenced to three years in prison and 30 days in the Deschutes County Jail. He must also pay more than $8,000 in damages and register as a sex offender.
2/10/09 Bend
by Ariel Wesler
Sitting between his attorney and his parents, Mark Froelich prepared to approach the court to enter his plea for alleged sex crimes. Last year, the 32-year old karate instructor was arrested on multiple counts of sex abuse and rape of a 15-year old girl. He plead guilty Tuesday morning to three of five counts of second degree sexual abuse.
"You admit that you committed the crime of sex abuse in the second degree three times between January 11th and January 30th of 2008. Is that true?" asked Judge Stephen Tiktin
"Yes, sir," Froelich answered.
Froelich taught at the karate academy on Greenwood near downtown Bend. It closed down shortly after his arrest. The girl was one of his students--a big mistake his attorney says he's sorry about.
"My client was back here accepting his responsibility and he also wants to take this opportunity to apologize to the young lady and the young lady's family again. This was a regrettable incident," said Defense Attorney Jonathan Ash.
Official sentencing is scheduled for March. Froelich could face up to forty months in prison, thousands of dollars in damages, and probation. He must also register as a sex offender. Records show Froelich has no previous criminal history in oregon.
Froelich was originally charged with more than ten counts of sex crimes, but the prosecution dropped the other counts in exchange for a guilty plea. Froelich now lives in New York.
2/09/09 Bend
By Ariel Wesler
A former Bend karate instructor charged with sexually abusing a fifteen year old appeared in court today.
He was supposed to enter a plea, but there instead .. a disagreement in court. Mark William Froelich traveled from New York for Monday's court appearance to change his plea.
Froelich was charged last February with multiple counts of sexual abuse with a fifteen year old karate student. He owned a martial arts studio on Greenwood in Downtown Bend--which has since been closed down. Froelich was prepared to plea no contest to three counts of sexual abuse Monday afternoon, but the prosecution was expecting a guilty plea.
Neither attorney could reach an agreement, and the prosecutor who supposedly made the original plea deal is out of town.
"There hasn't been any note subsequent to that email indicating anything other than a guilty plea,” said Prosecutor Jonathan Char.
A plea of no contest would be treated the same as guilty, but could lessen the amount in damages Froelich would have to pay in civil court.
The plea hearing is now scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Deschutes County Courthouse.
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Former Bend Karate Instructor Pleads Guilty - UPDATE 3/30- Sentencing
3/30/09 Bend
UPDATE:
On March 30, Mark Froelich is sentenced to three years in prison and 30 days in the Deschutes County Jail. He must also pay more than $8,000 in damages and register as a sex offender.
2/10/09 Bend
by Ariel Wesler
Sitting between his attorney and his parents, Mark Froelich prepared to approach the court to enter his plea for alleged sex crimes. Last year, the 32-year old karate instructor was arrested on multiple counts of sex abuse and rape of a 15-year old girl. He plead guilty Tuesday morning to three of five counts of second degree sexual abuse.
"You admit that you committed the crime of sex abuse in the second degree three times between January 11th and January 30th of 2008. Is that true?" asked Judge Stephen Tiktin
"Yes, sir," Froelich answered.
Froelich taught at the karate academy on Greenwood near downtown Bend. It closed down shortly after his arrest. The girl was one of his students--a big mistake his attorney says he's sorry about.
"My client was back here accepting his responsibility and he also wants to take this opportunity to apologize to the young lady and the young lady's family again. This was a regrettable incident," said Defense Attorney Jonathan Ash.
Official sentencing is scheduled for March. Froelich could face up to forty months in prison, thousands of dollars in damages, and probation. He must also register as a sex offender. Records show Froelich has no previous criminal history in oregon.
Froelich was originally charged with more than ten counts of sex crimes, but the prosecution dropped the other counts in exchange for a guilty plea. Froelich now lives in New York.
2/09/09 Bend
By Ariel Wesler
A former Bend karate instructor charged with sexually abusing a fifteen year old appeared in court today.
He was supposed to enter a plea, but there instead .. a disagreement in court. Mark William Froelich traveled from New York for Monday's court appearance to change his plea.
Froelich was charged last February with multiple counts of sexual abuse with a fifteen year old karate student. He owned a martial arts studio on Greenwood in Downtown Bend--which has since been closed down. Froelich was prepared to plea no contest to three counts of sexual abuse Monday afternoon, but the prosecution was expecting a guilty plea.
Neither attorney could reach an agreement, and the prosecutor who supposedly made the original plea deal is out of town.
"There hasn't been any note subsequent to that email indicating anything other than a guilty plea,” said Prosecutor Jonathan Char.
A plea of no contest would be treated the same as guilty, but could lessen the amount in damages Froelich would have to pay in civil court.
The plea hearing is now scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Deschutes County Courthouse.
http://www.bendbulletin.com/news/1442140-151/martial-arts-instructor-charged-in-sex-abuse
Published Feb. 16, 2008 at 04:00AM
Martial arts instructor charged in sex abuse
A Bend tae kwon do instructor was indicted Thursday on three counts of third-degree rape, five counts of second-degree sex abuse and three counts of third-degree sex abuse, according to court records.
Mark William Froelich, 32, was lodged at the Deschutes County jail Friday and remained there on $100,000 bail, according to a jail official.
Froelich has no other criminal history in Oregon, court records show. He teaches at ATA Black Belt Academy in Bend, which has been closed indefinitely, according to its Web site.
The crimes Froelich has been accused of allegedly took place in January and February, according to court records. He has not yet entered a plea.
Published Feb. 16, 2008 at 04:00AM
Martial arts instructor charged in sex abuse
A Bend tae kwon do instructor was indicted Thursday on three counts of third-degree rape, five counts of second-degree sex abuse and three counts of third-degree sex abuse, according to court records.
Mark William Froelich, 32, was lodged at the Deschutes County jail Friday and remained there on $100,000 bail, according to a jail official.
Froelich has no other criminal history in Oregon, court records show. He teaches at ATA Black Belt Academy in Bend, which has been closed indefinitely, according to its Web site.
The crimes Froelich has been accused of allegedly took place in January and February, according to court records. He has not yet entered a plea.