http://www.10news.com/news/28033717/detail.html
Karate Instructor Who Molested Student Sentenced
Eric Protas, 38, Pleaded Guilty To 29 Felony Charges
POSTED: 7:27 am PDT May 26, 2011
UPDATED: 8:11 pm PDT May 26, 2011
EL CAJON, Calif. -- A karate instructor who carried on a sexual relationship for 10 months with one of his longtime male teenage students was sentenced Thursday to 26 years in state prison.
Eric Dylan Protas, 38, was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
Judge Peter Deddeh told the packed courtroom that there is supposed to be a special bond between teacher and student. The victim, who had been taking martial arts from Protas since kindergarten, looked up to the defendant, the judge said.
"He (Protas) betrayed that trust," Deddeh said.
Deputy District Attorney John Philpott said the defendant groomed the boy and molested him from August 2009 to May 2010, when he was 13 and 14.
Once Protas was charged, he mounted a smear campaign against the victim, calling him a liar and re-victimizing him and his family, the prosecutor said.
Protas claimed he was the victim of false allegations, using the Internet and a wide circle of friends and supporters to bolster his claims.
However, it wasn't until after his preliminary hearing that Protas changed his plea.
Protos pleaded guilty in February to 29 felony charges, including committing lewd acts on a child.
"He only confessed when all of the evidence was laid out on the table in front of him" said Jim Krebs, the teen's uncle.
The victim's grandfather, Kenneth Krebs, told the judge that Protas systematically plotted to take advantage of his grandson.
"He (Protas) really had everyone convinced he was special," Krebs said. "We were all duped."
"He was definitely a pro at his profession; a pedophile and a child molester," Krebs added.
Protas' attorney cited a psychologist's report that said his client endured a "problematic psycho-sexual development."
Attorney Albert Arenas told the judge Protas struggled with his sexual identity and the social stigma he felt about being gay.
"It doesn't justify or excuse his actions," said Arenas, who said Protas fell in love with the teen who he had been instructing in Karate for years.
Arenas called Protas a "pillar of the community" who made a tragic mistake, and asked the judge to sentence him to no more than 16 years in prison.
The victim -- now 15 -- testified last October that he had oral and anal sex about 300 times with Protas, owner-operator of the Allied Gardens School of Martial Arts on Waring Road.
The boy testified that Protas became his instructor in an after-school martial arts program when he was in kindergarten, and he began taking classes at the studio when he was older.
At one point, when he was having trouble at home and school, he confided in Protas, who made him feel better, the boy said. He said that launched a relationship in which they got together nearly every day.
The two began having sex at Protas' house and, if he refused, the defendant would "shut down" emotionally and cry, according to the boy.
Police were called when the teen told his mother what was happening, after he was arrested for shoplifting.
Karate Instructor Who Molested Student Sentenced
Eric Protas, 38, Pleaded Guilty To 29 Felony Charges
POSTED: 7:27 am PDT May 26, 2011
UPDATED: 8:11 pm PDT May 26, 2011
EL CAJON, Calif. -- A karate instructor who carried on a sexual relationship for 10 months with one of his longtime male teenage students was sentenced Thursday to 26 years in state prison.
Eric Dylan Protas, 38, was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
Judge Peter Deddeh told the packed courtroom that there is supposed to be a special bond between teacher and student. The victim, who had been taking martial arts from Protas since kindergarten, looked up to the defendant, the judge said.
"He (Protas) betrayed that trust," Deddeh said.
Deputy District Attorney John Philpott said the defendant groomed the boy and molested him from August 2009 to May 2010, when he was 13 and 14.
Once Protas was charged, he mounted a smear campaign against the victim, calling him a liar and re-victimizing him and his family, the prosecutor said.
Protas claimed he was the victim of false allegations, using the Internet and a wide circle of friends and supporters to bolster his claims.
However, it wasn't until after his preliminary hearing that Protas changed his plea.
Protos pleaded guilty in February to 29 felony charges, including committing lewd acts on a child.
"He only confessed when all of the evidence was laid out on the table in front of him" said Jim Krebs, the teen's uncle.
The victim's grandfather, Kenneth Krebs, told the judge that Protas systematically plotted to take advantage of his grandson.
"He (Protas) really had everyone convinced he was special," Krebs said. "We were all duped."
"He was definitely a pro at his profession; a pedophile and a child molester," Krebs added.
Protas' attorney cited a psychologist's report that said his client endured a "problematic psycho-sexual development."
Attorney Albert Arenas told the judge Protas struggled with his sexual identity and the social stigma he felt about being gay.
"It doesn't justify or excuse his actions," said Arenas, who said Protas fell in love with the teen who he had been instructing in Karate for years.
Arenas called Protas a "pillar of the community" who made a tragic mistake, and asked the judge to sentence him to no more than 16 years in prison.
The victim -- now 15 -- testified last October that he had oral and anal sex about 300 times with Protas, owner-operator of the Allied Gardens School of Martial Arts on Waring Road.
The boy testified that Protas became his instructor in an after-school martial arts program when he was in kindergarten, and he began taking classes at the studio when he was older.
At one point, when he was having trouble at home and school, he confided in Protas, who made him feel better, the boy said. He said that launched a relationship in which they got together nearly every day.
The two began having sex at Protas' house and, if he refused, the defendant would "shut down" emotionally and cry, according to the boy.
Police were called when the teen told his mother what was happening, after he was arrested for shoplifting.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2011/may/11/socal-karate-teacher-to-be-sentenced-for-teen-sex/
News»
SoCal karate teacher to be sentenced for teen sex
EL CAJON, Calif. — A San Diego County karate instructor could face 48 years in prison for having sex with a teenage student who claimed he was molested hundreds of times.
City News Service says Eric Protas of La Mesa is scheduled for sentencing Wednesday afternoon. He pleaded guilty to 29 counts, including committing lewd acts on a child.
He's 38 and the boy is now 14.
Protas owns a martial arts school in El Cajon. Prosecutors say he had sex in 2009 and 2010 with a student he had known since kindergarten.
The boy testified that he had sex with Protas about 300 times.
The Associated Press
News»
SoCal karate teacher to be sentenced for teen sex
EL CAJON, Calif. — A San Diego County karate instructor could face 48 years in prison for having sex with a teenage student who claimed he was molested hundreds of times.
City News Service says Eric Protas of La Mesa is scheduled for sentencing Wednesday afternoon. He pleaded guilty to 29 counts, including committing lewd acts on a child.
He's 38 and the boy is now 14.
Protas owns a martial arts school in El Cajon. Prosecutors say he had sex in 2009 and 2010 with a student he had known since kindergarten.
The boy testified that he had sex with Protas about 300 times.
The Associated Press
https://patch.com/california/lamesa/karate-instructor-from-la-mesa-accused-of-molesting-boy-13
Police & Fire
Karate Teacher from La Mesa Accused of Molesting Boy, 13, at San Diego Studio
Friends and family are set to support Eric Protas in court Tuesday—spurred by Facebook page with hundreds of notes.
By Ken Stone (Patch Staff) - Updated December 21, 2010 9:10 am ET
ShareTweetGoogle PlusRedditEmailComments0
Karate Teacher from La Mesa Accused of Molesting Boy, 13, at San Diego Studio
A La Mesa man who runs a karate school in San Diego is in court Tuesday, accused of repeatedly molesting a 13-year-old boy. His Facebook friends have promised a big show of support, claiming his innocence.
The resident, Eric Dylan Protas, 38, is set for a preliminary hearing at El Cajon Superior Court to decide if he should be held for trial in the case.
Protas is charged with a dozen counts of committing lewd acts on a child over a yearlong period at his studio. He would face 21 years in prison if convicted. Protas, owner and operator of Allied Gardens School of Martial Arts on Waring Road, is being held on $800,000 bail.
A Facebook page titled "Head Instructor Eric Protas is innocent" says: "On August 12, 2010, Head Instructor Eric Protas of Allied Gardens School of Martial Arts was arrested before the school's summer camp, under false charges made by a former student and his mother."
Hundreds of postings be friends, students and relatives show support for Protas, who has been jailed at the George Bailey Detention Facility in San Diego.
Get free real-time news alerts from the La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch.
By clicking "Subscribe", you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Keith Montague wrote: "I've known Eric for over 30 years and of all the people I've known in my life what he is being accused of is totaly insane. There is no way a person of his caliber could do such a thing. Good luck, Eric, my thoughts are with you."
Defense attorney Albert Arena said at an earlier hearing that his client made no admissions on a "controlled" call with the alleged victim, and the conversation between the two was "open to interpretation."
Arena said a possible suicide note from Protas, found during the execution of a search warrant, was penned by a "very despondent person."
Deputy District Attorney John Philpott said the suicide note was written a week or more before it was discovered and indicated what Protas might do to himself if the allegations involving the boy came to light.
A judge will decide at the end of the preliminary hearing whether enough
evidence was presented for Protas to stand trial.
Police & Fire
Karate Teacher from La Mesa Accused of Molesting Boy, 13, at San Diego Studio
Friends and family are set to support Eric Protas in court Tuesday—spurred by Facebook page with hundreds of notes.
By Ken Stone (Patch Staff) - Updated December 21, 2010 9:10 am ET
ShareTweetGoogle PlusRedditEmailComments0
Karate Teacher from La Mesa Accused of Molesting Boy, 13, at San Diego Studio
A La Mesa man who runs a karate school in San Diego is in court Tuesday, accused of repeatedly molesting a 13-year-old boy. His Facebook friends have promised a big show of support, claiming his innocence.
The resident, Eric Dylan Protas, 38, is set for a preliminary hearing at El Cajon Superior Court to decide if he should be held for trial in the case.
Protas is charged with a dozen counts of committing lewd acts on a child over a yearlong period at his studio. He would face 21 years in prison if convicted. Protas, owner and operator of Allied Gardens School of Martial Arts on Waring Road, is being held on $800,000 bail.
A Facebook page titled "Head Instructor Eric Protas is innocent" says: "On August 12, 2010, Head Instructor Eric Protas of Allied Gardens School of Martial Arts was arrested before the school's summer camp, under false charges made by a former student and his mother."
Hundreds of postings be friends, students and relatives show support for Protas, who has been jailed at the George Bailey Detention Facility in San Diego.
Get free real-time news alerts from the La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch.
By clicking "Subscribe", you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Keith Montague wrote: "I've known Eric for over 30 years and of all the people I've known in my life what he is being accused of is totaly insane. There is no way a person of his caliber could do such a thing. Good luck, Eric, my thoughts are with you."
Defense attorney Albert Arena said at an earlier hearing that his client made no admissions on a "controlled" call with the alleged victim, and the conversation between the two was "open to interpretation."
Arena said a possible suicide note from Protas, found during the execution of a search warrant, was penned by a "very despondent person."
Deputy District Attorney John Philpott said the suicide note was written a week or more before it was discovered and indicated what Protas might do to himself if the allegations involving the boy came to light.
A judge will decide at the end of the preliminary hearing whether enough
evidence was presented for Protas to stand trial.