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Former martial arts instructor takes plea
March 14, 2014 11:08 AM
Shea Johnson, Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE • A former Apple Valley martial arts instructor accused of molesting six teenage pupils entered into a plea bargain on Thursday and is expected to be sentenced for his crimes in May, court records show.
Umar Love, 32, pleaded no contest to one count of lewd or lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years old and one count of rape by force or fear, according to court records.
Love skipped bail to Canada in late 2011 while he faced nine total counts of sex-related crimes. Seven of the counts against Love were dropped as part of the plea bargain.
The case’s prosecutor on Thursday declined to comment on the case until after sentencing on May 8, while a message to the attorney representing Love was not immediately returned.
Love owned and operated Evolved Martial Arts in the 12200 block of Apple Valley Road when he was arrested Dec. 14, 2011, for sexually abusing a 14-yearold girl. After posting bail, he fled to Canada with his 24-year-old girlfriend just as a follow-up investigation had implicated him in the alleged molestations of five additional victims, authorities said.
Acting on an anonymous tip, Canadian authorities on New Year’s Eve 2011 captured Love in a hotel near Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport. Three weeks later, he was extradited back to New York and then returned to San Bernardino County, according to jail records.
He was in custody Thursday at the High Desert Detention Center in lieu of $700,000 bail, jail records show.
Apple Valley spokeswoman Kathie Martin said Evolved Martial Arts’ business license expired in January 2012.
Shea Johnson may be reached at 760-955-5368 or [email protected].
Get complete stories every day with the "exactly as printed" Daily Press E-edition, only $5 per month! Click here to try it free for 7 days. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call 760-241-7755, 1-800-553-2006 or click here.
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Former martial arts instructor takes plea
March 14, 2014 11:08 AM
Shea Johnson, Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE • A former Apple Valley martial arts instructor accused of molesting six teenage pupils entered into a plea bargain on Thursday and is expected to be sentenced for his crimes in May, court records show.
Umar Love, 32, pleaded no contest to one count of lewd or lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years old and one count of rape by force or fear, according to court records.
Love skipped bail to Canada in late 2011 while he faced nine total counts of sex-related crimes. Seven of the counts against Love were dropped as part of the plea bargain.
The case’s prosecutor on Thursday declined to comment on the case until after sentencing on May 8, while a message to the attorney representing Love was not immediately returned.
Love owned and operated Evolved Martial Arts in the 12200 block of Apple Valley Road when he was arrested Dec. 14, 2011, for sexually abusing a 14-yearold girl. After posting bail, he fled to Canada with his 24-year-old girlfriend just as a follow-up investigation had implicated him in the alleged molestations of five additional victims, authorities said.
Acting on an anonymous tip, Canadian authorities on New Year’s Eve 2011 captured Love in a hotel near Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport. Three weeks later, he was extradited back to New York and then returned to San Bernardino County, according to jail records.
He was in custody Thursday at the High Desert Detention Center in lieu of $700,000 bail, jail records show.
Apple Valley spokeswoman Kathie Martin said Evolved Martial Arts’ business license expired in January 2012.
Shea Johnson may be reached at 760-955-5368 or [email protected].
Get complete stories every day with the "exactly as printed" Daily Press E-edition, only $5 per month! Click here to try it free for 7 days. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call 760-241-7755, 1-800-553-2006 or click here.