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7/2/2015 12:27:00 PM
Jury Finds Karate Instructor Guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Brant Perkins
By Abigail W. Adams
A case that began over two years ago due to a mistakenly sent text message has resulted in three guilty verdicts. Brant Perkins, 56, of Boothbay Harbor and formerly of Edgecomb, was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, a class C felony; and two counts of tampering with a victim, both class B felonies, in Lincoln County Superior Court Wednesday, July 1.
Three other charges related to the case - possession of sexually explicit material, a class C felony; tampering with a witness or informant, a class C felony; and violation of condition of release, a class E misdemeanor - remain pending.
Sentencing for the guilty verdicts will most likely take place after the outstanding charges against Perkins are resolved, court officials said. Perkins has been held without bail at Two Bridges Regional Jail since his arrest in January for allegedly tampering with a witness or informant and violation of condition of release.
"The people involved in this case were very happy to hear the verdicts," Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Liberman said. "This has been pending for a long time and we're very happy with the outcome."
According to Perkins' counsel, Justin Andrus, the guilty verdicts were a surprise and the defense will be filing an appeal once the sentence is final.
Perkins, formerly a karate instructor with the Maine Isshinryu Karate Academy in Randolph, was arrested outside the studio in March 2013 for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. Perkins was 54 at the time.
According to an affidavit by Maine State Police Detective Joshua Birmingham, the investigation into Perkins stemmed from a text message meant for the minor but accidentally sent to an ex-girlfriend.
The accidentally sent text message was a pivotal piece of evidence for the state in the trial against Perkins.
The state also presented text messages sent to the victim by Perkins following his arrest, which instructed the victim to lie about their sexual relationship, as evidence.
Two of Perkins' former roommates, the victim, and Birmingham were called as witnesses by the state. Perkins was the only witness called by the defense.
The long-delayed case, which underwent several continuances, motions to suppress, and a change in the defendant's counsel, was decided within hours. The jury deliberated and returned a guilty verdict on the sexual abuse of a minor charge.
Due to the request of Andrus, the two counts of tampering with a victim were "tried to the court." Once the jury was out for deliberations, additional evidence related to the two tampering with a victim charges was presented strictly to the court.
Justice Daniel Billings, who presided over the case, found Perkins guilty on both counts.
According to Andrus, the guilty verdict was a surprise because the victim testified she told Perkins she was 18 years old at the time of their relationship and no evidence was presented to the contrary.
"While we appreciate the jury's work, we believe the verdict was in error and we'll be appealing it," Andrus said.
Andrus declined to comment on why the defense requested the tampering with a victim charges be "tried to the court."
The initial investigation into Perkins' relationship with his student netted a fourth charge, possession of sexually explicit material. According to court documents, Perkins' cellphone allegedly contained pictures of prepubescent girls engaged in sexual activity with adult men.
In April, the court granted the defendant's motion to sever the child pornography charge from the other charges due to the defense's argument that the charge would prejudice the court against Perkins.
Perkins was arrested in January 2015 on the charge of tampering with a witness or informant for allegedly encouraging another one of his students to forge a journal in order to establish an alibi for the possession of sexually explicit material charge.
According to Birmingham's affidavit, the student was allegedly driven to the store by Perkins and instructed to buy a journal and write that the two were in a private jiujitsu session at the date and time when the images were recorded on Perkins' cellphone. Perkins was also charged with violation of condition of release.
Perkins will reappear in court on the three pending charges in August, Andrus said. Liberman will continue to represent the state in the pending charges and Andrus anticipates he will continue to represent the defendant.
Lincoln County News
PH: 207-563-3171 | Fax: 207-563-3127
Mailing Address: PO Box 36, Damariscotta, ME 04543 | Plant Location: 116 Mills Rd., Newcastle, ME
copyright 2015 The Lincoln County News
Software © 1998-2015 1up! Software, All Rights Reserved
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7/2/2015 12:27:00 PM
Jury Finds Karate Instructor Guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Brant Perkins
By Abigail W. Adams
A case that began over two years ago due to a mistakenly sent text message has resulted in three guilty verdicts. Brant Perkins, 56, of Boothbay Harbor and formerly of Edgecomb, was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, a class C felony; and two counts of tampering with a victim, both class B felonies, in Lincoln County Superior Court Wednesday, July 1.
Three other charges related to the case - possession of sexually explicit material, a class C felony; tampering with a witness or informant, a class C felony; and violation of condition of release, a class E misdemeanor - remain pending.
Sentencing for the guilty verdicts will most likely take place after the outstanding charges against Perkins are resolved, court officials said. Perkins has been held without bail at Two Bridges Regional Jail since his arrest in January for allegedly tampering with a witness or informant and violation of condition of release.
"The people involved in this case were very happy to hear the verdicts," Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Liberman said. "This has been pending for a long time and we're very happy with the outcome."
According to Perkins' counsel, Justin Andrus, the guilty verdicts were a surprise and the defense will be filing an appeal once the sentence is final.
Perkins, formerly a karate instructor with the Maine Isshinryu Karate Academy in Randolph, was arrested outside the studio in March 2013 for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. Perkins was 54 at the time.
According to an affidavit by Maine State Police Detective Joshua Birmingham, the investigation into Perkins stemmed from a text message meant for the minor but accidentally sent to an ex-girlfriend.
The accidentally sent text message was a pivotal piece of evidence for the state in the trial against Perkins.
The state also presented text messages sent to the victim by Perkins following his arrest, which instructed the victim to lie about their sexual relationship, as evidence.
Two of Perkins' former roommates, the victim, and Birmingham were called as witnesses by the state. Perkins was the only witness called by the defense.
The long-delayed case, which underwent several continuances, motions to suppress, and a change in the defendant's counsel, was decided within hours. The jury deliberated and returned a guilty verdict on the sexual abuse of a minor charge.
Due to the request of Andrus, the two counts of tampering with a victim were "tried to the court." Once the jury was out for deliberations, additional evidence related to the two tampering with a victim charges was presented strictly to the court.
Justice Daniel Billings, who presided over the case, found Perkins guilty on both counts.
According to Andrus, the guilty verdict was a surprise because the victim testified she told Perkins she was 18 years old at the time of their relationship and no evidence was presented to the contrary.
"While we appreciate the jury's work, we believe the verdict was in error and we'll be appealing it," Andrus said.
Andrus declined to comment on why the defense requested the tampering with a victim charges be "tried to the court."
The initial investigation into Perkins' relationship with his student netted a fourth charge, possession of sexually explicit material. According to court documents, Perkins' cellphone allegedly contained pictures of prepubescent girls engaged in sexual activity with adult men.
In April, the court granted the defendant's motion to sever the child pornography charge from the other charges due to the defense's argument that the charge would prejudice the court against Perkins.
Perkins was arrested in January 2015 on the charge of tampering with a witness or informant for allegedly encouraging another one of his students to forge a journal in order to establish an alibi for the possession of sexually explicit material charge.
According to Birmingham's affidavit, the student was allegedly driven to the store by Perkins and instructed to buy a journal and write that the two were in a private jiujitsu session at the date and time when the images were recorded on Perkins' cellphone. Perkins was also charged with violation of condition of release.
Perkins will reappear in court on the three pending charges in August, Andrus said. Liberman will continue to represent the state in the pending charges and Andrus anticipates he will continue to represent the defendant.
Lincoln County News
PH: 207-563-3171 | Fax: 207-563-3127
Mailing Address: PO Box 36, Damariscotta, ME 04543 | Plant Location: 116 Mills Rd., Newcastle, ME
copyright 2015 The Lincoln County News
Software © 1998-2015 1up! Software, All Rights Reserved
http://www.boothbayregister.com/article/sex-texts-and-jiu-jitsu-jury-finds-perkins-guilty/55480
Lincoln County Superior Court
Sex, texts and jiu jitsu: Jury finds Perkins guilty
Perkins’ case goes to trial
By
SUE MELLO, Staff Reporter
Posted:
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 - 8:45am
Photo of Brant Perkins
Brant Perkins, left, and his attorney Justin Andrus listen during his trial for sexual abuse of a minor in Lincoln County Superior Court. SUE MELLO/Boothbay Register
UPDATE: A Lincoln County jury found Brant Perkins guilty of sexual abuse of a minor on Wednesday afternoon. Judge Daniel Billings also found Perkins guilty of two counts of tampering with a witness. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Perkins is still scheduled for a jury trial on a child pornography charge; a court date has not yet been set.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A 55-year-old jiu jitsu instructor who had sex with a 15-year-old student is being tried in Lincoln County Superior Court this week.
Brant Perkins, 56, of Edgecomb, appeared before a jury on Monday, June 29 to face charges he sexually abused a minor in November 2013. Both the prosecution and defense agree the sex act occurred. However, prosecutors allege Perkins was aware of the girl’s age, making it a crime, while the defense claims he believed she was of legal age.
By the end of the day on Tuesday, the jury of seven men and six women had heard testimony from Perkins, the victim, Perkins’ former roommate who reported him to authorities, and from the Maine State Police detective who investigated the case. They had also reviewed numerous text messages and listened to recorded excerpts of Perkins speaking on the telephone and during a police interview.
During the first two days, jurors spent more time sequestered than in the courtroom. Defense attorney Justin Andrus objected frequently to state’s evidence and moved for dismissal, mistrial and acquittal at various points in the proceedings. With either jurors out of the room, in conference at the bench or in chambers, Judge Daniel Billings heard from both sides and determined the admissibility of each text message and every recorded audio excerpt.
Assistant District Attorney Jon Liberman presented four witnesses on the state’s behalf: the victim, Perkins’ two former roommates and Detective Joshua Birmingham.
The victim, a slender young woman in a white button down shirt, answered questions in a voice that implied more question than answer and at times seemed confused.
She said she met Perkins in 2012 at the M.I.K.A. karate studio in Randolph, where he was a jiu jitsu instructor and she was a student. She described spending time at the defendant’s home and acknowledged she was 15 when they had sexual intercourse.
On cross examination, Andrus focused on the victim’s Facebook page where she misrepresented her age as 18 and showed a photo she posted at the time to Facebook.
“Did you tell him that (you were 18) before or after intercourse?” Andrus asked. “Before,” she answered.
“Had you ever discussed your actual age before intercourse?” Andrus asked. “Not that I recall,” she answered.
Perkins’ roommate, another jiu jitsu student who reported the sexual abuse to the state and cooperated with investigators, testified next. Liberman asked how she became aware of the relationship.
“He told me. We talked a lot; we were good friends,” the former roommate said.
The roommate said she and Perkins had conversations about the girl’s age before he had sex with her. “He and I were concerned previously (before the act). She had a boyfriend at the time and his father we felt was inappropriate and staring at her in class. We talked about her age in regards to that. And he (Perkins) talked about making her a cake for her 16th birthday,” the former roommate said.
The former roommate provided investigators with text messages from Perkins, including one intended for the victim, and called Perkins so investigators could record the phone conversation without Perkins’ knowledge. In the recorded call, Perkins acknowledged the sex act and expressed anguish over the situation.
In his testimony, Detective Birmingham described his March 2013 interview with the victim in her high school guidance counselor’s office, and texts on her cell phone from the defendant. The texts encouraged the girl to deny the situation. “No matter what, we didn’t have sex. Tell them I’m like a dad to you,” Perkins advised.
Birmingham detailed his interview with Perkins and Liberman played recorded excerpts. During the interview, Perkins changed from denying any sexual activity with the girl to admitting it. “The only time I had sex with her when she was 15 was the month of November,” Perkins stated on the recording. Perkins described driving the victim home after a jiu jitsu skirmish, when he said she directed him to pull down a dirt road. “I said what are we doing and she scooched over. That’s basically the beginning of the end,” he said.
On the recording Birmingham asked Perkins how he knew the girl was 15. Perkins answered: “She told me.” On cross examination, Andrus asked Birmingham if he had specifically asked Perkins whether he knew the girl was 15 at the time of the sex act. Birmingham said he had not.
The defense called only Perkins to the stand. Perkins said the victim originally approached him via text message and he believed she was “between 18 and 20” based on Facebook and other social media sites. Perkins said he did not learn of the victim’s age until two weeks after they had sex. “I was appalled,” he said. “Did you have intercourse with her after you knew she was 15?” Andrus asked. “Not at all,” Perkins replied.
When asked by Andrus why he had not told detectives he believed the girl was older, Perkins said he was trying to protect her. “She has an abusive home life and she lied about her age, and also, I didn’t realize how severe this crime was.”
In cross examination, Liberman questioned Perkins about inconsistencies in his testimony, his texts and his police interview. “Is it safe to say when you are afraid of the consequences you at times do not tell the truth?” Liberman asked. “Yes,” Perkins replied.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning and then the jury will begin its deliberations.
A child pornography charge stemming from this case will be tried separately.
Perkins waived his right to a jury trial for two other subsequent charges of tampering with a witness. Those charges will be weighed separately by Judge Billings.
Lincoln County Superior Court
Sex, texts and jiu jitsu: Jury finds Perkins guilty
Perkins’ case goes to trial
By
SUE MELLO, Staff Reporter
Posted:
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 - 8:45am
Photo of Brant Perkins
Brant Perkins, left, and his attorney Justin Andrus listen during his trial for sexual abuse of a minor in Lincoln County Superior Court. SUE MELLO/Boothbay Register
UPDATE: A Lincoln County jury found Brant Perkins guilty of sexual abuse of a minor on Wednesday afternoon. Judge Daniel Billings also found Perkins guilty of two counts of tampering with a witness. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Perkins is still scheduled for a jury trial on a child pornography charge; a court date has not yet been set.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A 55-year-old jiu jitsu instructor who had sex with a 15-year-old student is being tried in Lincoln County Superior Court this week.
Brant Perkins, 56, of Edgecomb, appeared before a jury on Monday, June 29 to face charges he sexually abused a minor in November 2013. Both the prosecution and defense agree the sex act occurred. However, prosecutors allege Perkins was aware of the girl’s age, making it a crime, while the defense claims he believed she was of legal age.
By the end of the day on Tuesday, the jury of seven men and six women had heard testimony from Perkins, the victim, Perkins’ former roommate who reported him to authorities, and from the Maine State Police detective who investigated the case. They had also reviewed numerous text messages and listened to recorded excerpts of Perkins speaking on the telephone and during a police interview.
During the first two days, jurors spent more time sequestered than in the courtroom. Defense attorney Justin Andrus objected frequently to state’s evidence and moved for dismissal, mistrial and acquittal at various points in the proceedings. With either jurors out of the room, in conference at the bench or in chambers, Judge Daniel Billings heard from both sides and determined the admissibility of each text message and every recorded audio excerpt.
Assistant District Attorney Jon Liberman presented four witnesses on the state’s behalf: the victim, Perkins’ two former roommates and Detective Joshua Birmingham.
The victim, a slender young woman in a white button down shirt, answered questions in a voice that implied more question than answer and at times seemed confused.
She said she met Perkins in 2012 at the M.I.K.A. karate studio in Randolph, where he was a jiu jitsu instructor and she was a student. She described spending time at the defendant’s home and acknowledged she was 15 when they had sexual intercourse.
On cross examination, Andrus focused on the victim’s Facebook page where she misrepresented her age as 18 and showed a photo she posted at the time to Facebook.
“Did you tell him that (you were 18) before or after intercourse?” Andrus asked. “Before,” she answered.
“Had you ever discussed your actual age before intercourse?” Andrus asked. “Not that I recall,” she answered.
Perkins’ roommate, another jiu jitsu student who reported the sexual abuse to the state and cooperated with investigators, testified next. Liberman asked how she became aware of the relationship.
“He told me. We talked a lot; we were good friends,” the former roommate said.
The roommate said she and Perkins had conversations about the girl’s age before he had sex with her. “He and I were concerned previously (before the act). She had a boyfriend at the time and his father we felt was inappropriate and staring at her in class. We talked about her age in regards to that. And he (Perkins) talked about making her a cake for her 16th birthday,” the former roommate said.
The former roommate provided investigators with text messages from Perkins, including one intended for the victim, and called Perkins so investigators could record the phone conversation without Perkins’ knowledge. In the recorded call, Perkins acknowledged the sex act and expressed anguish over the situation.
In his testimony, Detective Birmingham described his March 2013 interview with the victim in her high school guidance counselor’s office, and texts on her cell phone from the defendant. The texts encouraged the girl to deny the situation. “No matter what, we didn’t have sex. Tell them I’m like a dad to you,” Perkins advised.
Birmingham detailed his interview with Perkins and Liberman played recorded excerpts. During the interview, Perkins changed from denying any sexual activity with the girl to admitting it. “The only time I had sex with her when she was 15 was the month of November,” Perkins stated on the recording. Perkins described driving the victim home after a jiu jitsu skirmish, when he said she directed him to pull down a dirt road. “I said what are we doing and she scooched over. That’s basically the beginning of the end,” he said.
On the recording Birmingham asked Perkins how he knew the girl was 15. Perkins answered: “She told me.” On cross examination, Andrus asked Birmingham if he had specifically asked Perkins whether he knew the girl was 15 at the time of the sex act. Birmingham said he had not.
The defense called only Perkins to the stand. Perkins said the victim originally approached him via text message and he believed she was “between 18 and 20” based on Facebook and other social media sites. Perkins said he did not learn of the victim’s age until two weeks after they had sex. “I was appalled,” he said. “Did you have intercourse with her after you knew she was 15?” Andrus asked. “Not at all,” Perkins replied.
When asked by Andrus why he had not told detectives he believed the girl was older, Perkins said he was trying to protect her. “She has an abusive home life and she lied about her age, and also, I didn’t realize how severe this crime was.”
In cross examination, Liberman questioned Perkins about inconsistencies in his testimony, his texts and his police interview. “Is it safe to say when you are afraid of the consequences you at times do not tell the truth?” Liberman asked. “Yes,” Perkins replied.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning and then the jury will begin its deliberations.
A child pornography charge stemming from this case will be tried separately.
Perkins waived his right to a jury trial for two other subsequent charges of tampering with a witness. Those charges will be weighed separately by Judge Billings.
http://www.kjonline.com/news/Randolph-martial-arts-instructor-charged-with-sexually-abusing-a-student.html
Posted March 8, 2013
Randolph martial arts instructor charged with sexually abusing student
Kennebec Journal staff report
RANDOLPH — A martial arts instructor who teaches in Randolph was arrested Thursday night on an allegation that he had sex with one of his students, according to Maine State Police.
Brant Perkins, 53, of Edgecomb, was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, state police said in a news release.
Police said Perkins is an instructor at the Maine Isshinryu Karate Academies in Randolph. According to the release, he was arrested by police Detective Joshua Birmingham outside the Randolph martial arts building about 7 p.m. Thursday night.
Police said the victim is a teenage girl who was one of Perkins’ students, and that a family friend reported the abuse this week. Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said the abuse occurred at Perkins’ home in Edgecomb.
The karate academy operates at several locations in Maine.
Glen Fitzmaurice, owner of the Randolph studio, said Friday that Perkins “is no longer affiliated with us. He will not return. He’s not an employee and he never was." Fitzmaurice declined to comment further.
According to the karate academy’s website, Perkins is a black belt instructor who teaches two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays — one for teens and adults and another class for children ages 7 to 13.
Perkins was being held in lieu of $2,500 bail at the Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset. He was expected to make an initial appearence via video in Waldo County court later today.
This story will be updated.
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Send question/comment to the editors
Posted March 8, 2013
Randolph martial arts instructor charged with sexually abusing student
Kennebec Journal staff report
RANDOLPH — A martial arts instructor who teaches in Randolph was arrested Thursday night on an allegation that he had sex with one of his students, according to Maine State Police.
Brant Perkins, 53, of Edgecomb, was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, state police said in a news release.
Police said Perkins is an instructor at the Maine Isshinryu Karate Academies in Randolph. According to the release, he was arrested by police Detective Joshua Birmingham outside the Randolph martial arts building about 7 p.m. Thursday night.
Police said the victim is a teenage girl who was one of Perkins’ students, and that a family friend reported the abuse this week. Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said the abuse occurred at Perkins’ home in Edgecomb.
The karate academy operates at several locations in Maine.
Glen Fitzmaurice, owner of the Randolph studio, said Friday that Perkins “is no longer affiliated with us. He will not return. He’s not an employee and he never was." Fitzmaurice declined to comment further.
According to the karate academy’s website, Perkins is a black belt instructor who teaches two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays — one for teens and adults and another class for children ages 7 to 13.
Perkins was being held in lieu of $2,500 bail at the Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset. He was expected to make an initial appearence via video in Waldo County court later today.
This story will be updated.
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Send question/comment to the editors