http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20150820/ARTICLE/150829991
Sarasota Fitness Club and Fight Club gym owner accused of molesting students
By Elizabeth Johnson
Akram "Alan" Sleit, 53, who owns Sarasota Fitness and Fight Club, was arrested Wednesday on two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on victims 12 or older, but younger than 16. The alleged victims are 12 and 15, according to the Sarasota Police Department. Both girls attended Sleit's gym for boxing classes, where they said Sleit would inappropriately touch them while taking their measurements or helping them stretch.
Sleit came under investigation after the mother of the 15-year-old girl went to police.
The single mother from Sarasota did not think too much of it when her daughter recently expressed interest in changing boxing gyms. Her daughter had shown interest in boxing, and the mother -- with 10 years of martial arts experience of her own -- was supportive.
But when the mother spoke with a coach from another gym, she said he mentioned that he had many female clients who transferred from Sarasota Fitness and Fight Club, claiming they were harassed there. The coach asked the mother if the same thing happened to her daughter. The mother had heard nothing of it, but immediately asked her daughter about it.
"I asked her if she's leaving the gym because she felt uncomfortable and she said yes," the mother, who is not being named to protect her daughter's identity, told the Herald-Tribune. "She started telling me what happened. The story got worse and worse."
Police interviewed her 15-year-old daughter on Tuesday. For six months, the girl attended the gym as part of a program for troubled teenagers. She attended classes during the week and had free, private lessons with Sleit on Sundays. The girl said Sleit told her she could be great, "a champion," according to police.
"I thought that's great; he's showing interest in you," the mother said. "I didn't think anything of it because I've trained privately with others."
The girl said that she would go into Sleit's office, where he allegedly asked her sexual questions. The girl said she was uncomfortable, but would laugh it off when Sleit complimented her buttocks and body, according to police. He would sometimes slap her buttocks in class, she said. The girl said Sleit would put his hand under her clothing to cup and massage her breasts and buttocks, according to police. When she asked Sleit to stop, the girl said he would explain that he was just helping her stretch, according to police. The girl said other coaches would sometimes help her stretch, but never touched her inappropriately.
The girl said she left the gym after Sleit allegedly touched her vagina, while using oil to massage her legs, according to police. The girl said she was too afraid to tell him to stop, but never returned to the gym after that.
"It's really disturbing," the girl's mother said. "I was just irate."
The 15-year-old girl gave detectives the names of other possible victims.
Detectives also spoke Tuesday to a 12-year-old girl and her mother. The girl told police Sleit would touch her breasts under her clothing and touch her vagina over her clothing while helping her stretch, according to police. Sleit would allegedly take the girl in his office and lock the door to take measurements, where she claims he would touch her over her clothing. The girl said she asked Sleit to stop and felt uncomfortable with him. The girl's mother removed her from the gym after her daughter told her about Sleit touching her breasts.
Sarasota Police Department spokeswoman Genevieve Judge said detectives are interviewing more people, but additional charges have not been filed.
"Just based on what the two victims told detectives, we believe there are more victims," Judge said.
The 15-year-old girl's mother said she has heard about other female clients -- children and adults -- who left the gym because of Sleit's behavior.
"I hope that other people come forward and let it be known what's really going on," the mother said. "As a mother, that's our job to protect our kids. This is a parent's worst nightmare."
A call this morning to the Sarasota Fitness and Fight Club's phone number went straight to a voicemail that gave Sleit's name. The gym's website touts boxing as an "intense cardiovascular workout" that teaches self-confidence, self-defense and discipline. Group and one-on-one classes are available for people 8 and older, it states.
Sleit is being held without bail at the Sarasota County jail.
As for the 15-year-old girl and her mother, they continue to share a love for martial arts at a new gym.
"We're going to the boxing gym together now," the mother said, adding that this incident has made her more aware. "She didn't really show a loss of interest in boxing. It's definitely put a damper on it, but she really does love it. It's a passion."
Anyone with information on this case can call Detective Megan Buck at 941-954-7067.
Sarasota Fitness Club and Fight Club gym owner accused of molesting students
By Elizabeth Johnson
Akram "Alan" Sleit, 53, who owns Sarasota Fitness and Fight Club, was arrested Wednesday on two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on victims 12 or older, but younger than 16. The alleged victims are 12 and 15, according to the Sarasota Police Department. Both girls attended Sleit's gym for boxing classes, where they said Sleit would inappropriately touch them while taking their measurements or helping them stretch.
Sleit came under investigation after the mother of the 15-year-old girl went to police.
The single mother from Sarasota did not think too much of it when her daughter recently expressed interest in changing boxing gyms. Her daughter had shown interest in boxing, and the mother -- with 10 years of martial arts experience of her own -- was supportive.
But when the mother spoke with a coach from another gym, she said he mentioned that he had many female clients who transferred from Sarasota Fitness and Fight Club, claiming they were harassed there. The coach asked the mother if the same thing happened to her daughter. The mother had heard nothing of it, but immediately asked her daughter about it.
"I asked her if she's leaving the gym because she felt uncomfortable and she said yes," the mother, who is not being named to protect her daughter's identity, told the Herald-Tribune. "She started telling me what happened. The story got worse and worse."
Police interviewed her 15-year-old daughter on Tuesday. For six months, the girl attended the gym as part of a program for troubled teenagers. She attended classes during the week and had free, private lessons with Sleit on Sundays. The girl said Sleit told her she could be great, "a champion," according to police.
"I thought that's great; he's showing interest in you," the mother said. "I didn't think anything of it because I've trained privately with others."
The girl said that she would go into Sleit's office, where he allegedly asked her sexual questions. The girl said she was uncomfortable, but would laugh it off when Sleit complimented her buttocks and body, according to police. He would sometimes slap her buttocks in class, she said. The girl said Sleit would put his hand under her clothing to cup and massage her breasts and buttocks, according to police. When she asked Sleit to stop, the girl said he would explain that he was just helping her stretch, according to police. The girl said other coaches would sometimes help her stretch, but never touched her inappropriately.
The girl said she left the gym after Sleit allegedly touched her vagina, while using oil to massage her legs, according to police. The girl said she was too afraid to tell him to stop, but never returned to the gym after that.
"It's really disturbing," the girl's mother said. "I was just irate."
The 15-year-old girl gave detectives the names of other possible victims.
Detectives also spoke Tuesday to a 12-year-old girl and her mother. The girl told police Sleit would touch her breasts under her clothing and touch her vagina over her clothing while helping her stretch, according to police. Sleit would allegedly take the girl in his office and lock the door to take measurements, where she claims he would touch her over her clothing. The girl said she asked Sleit to stop and felt uncomfortable with him. The girl's mother removed her from the gym after her daughter told her about Sleit touching her breasts.
Sarasota Police Department spokeswoman Genevieve Judge said detectives are interviewing more people, but additional charges have not been filed.
"Just based on what the two victims told detectives, we believe there are more victims," Judge said.
The 15-year-old girl's mother said she has heard about other female clients -- children and adults -- who left the gym because of Sleit's behavior.
"I hope that other people come forward and let it be known what's really going on," the mother said. "As a mother, that's our job to protect our kids. This is a parent's worst nightmare."
A call this morning to the Sarasota Fitness and Fight Club's phone number went straight to a voicemail that gave Sleit's name. The gym's website touts boxing as an "intense cardiovascular workout" that teaches self-confidence, self-defense and discipline. Group and one-on-one classes are available for people 8 and older, it states.
Sleit is being held without bail at the Sarasota County jail.
As for the 15-year-old girl and her mother, they continue to share a love for martial arts at a new gym.
"We're going to the boxing gym together now," the mother said, adding that this incident has made her more aware. "She didn't really show a loss of interest in boxing. It's definitely put a damper on it, but she really does love it. It's a passion."
Anyone with information on this case can call Detective Megan Buck at 941-954-7067.
http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/flyer.do?personId=97707&x=9b225457-5e44-4724-964d-138f46a7a942
Florida Department of Law Enforcement - Sexual Offender / Predator Flyer
Picture of an Offender or Predator
AKRAM LABIB SLEIT
Date Of Photo: 11/01/2016
Click Here to Track this Offender
Designation: Sexual Offender
Name: AKRAM LABIB SLEIT
Status: Confinement
Department of Corrections #: S40272
Search the Dept of Corrections Website
Date of Birth: 12/04/1961
Race : Unknown
Sex: Male
Hair: Black
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 5'06"
Weight: 172 lbs
SLEIT is registered as a Sexual Offender.
Positive identification cannot be established unless a fingerprint comparison is made.
Aliases
AKRAM L SLEIT, AKRAM SLEIT
Scars, Marks & Tattoos
None Reported
Address Information
Address Address Source Information Map Link
Department of Corrections
Incarcerated, FL 00000
Unknown County Source: Dept. of Corrections
Received: 11/22/2016
Type of Address: Permanent Address not mappable
Crime Information - Qualifying Offenses
Adjudication Date Crime Description Court Case Number Jurisdiction & State Adjudication
09/27/2016 Lewd or lascivious molestation victim 12-15 years old offender 18 or older; F.S. 800.04(5)(c)(2) (PRINCIPAL IN ATEMPT (3 COUNTS)) 1513312 Sarasota, FL Guilty/convict
Victim Information
Gender:Female Minor:Yes
Link to FDLE QR Code for Offender Website
Subject's Flyer QR Code for Offender Flyer
NEW SEARCH
CAUTION! If you reached this flyer from any site other than FDLE's Florida Sexual Offender and Predator homepage, FDLE cannot guarantee the timeliness of the information you are viewing. To receive the most current information regarding registered sexual offenders or sexual predators registered with the State of Florida please conduct an "Offender Search" from FDLE's website located at http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender
If further information is needed, please contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement EIS-MPOR Data Management and Development Team at (1-888-357-7332) between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Positive identification cannot be established unless a fingerprint comparison is made.
Any person who misuses public records information relating to a sexual predator, as defined in this section, or a sexual offender, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree. Please see 775.21(10)(c) for more information.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement - Sexual Offender / Predator Flyer
Picture of an Offender or Predator
AKRAM LABIB SLEIT
Date Of Photo: 11/01/2016
Click Here to Track this Offender
Designation: Sexual Offender
Name: AKRAM LABIB SLEIT
Status: Confinement
Department of Corrections #: S40272
Search the Dept of Corrections Website
Date of Birth: 12/04/1961
Race : Unknown
Sex: Male
Hair: Black
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 5'06"
Weight: 172 lbs
SLEIT is registered as a Sexual Offender.
Positive identification cannot be established unless a fingerprint comparison is made.
Aliases
AKRAM L SLEIT, AKRAM SLEIT
Scars, Marks & Tattoos
None Reported
Address Information
Address Address Source Information Map Link
Department of Corrections
Incarcerated, FL 00000
Unknown County Source: Dept. of Corrections
Received: 11/22/2016
Type of Address: Permanent Address not mappable
Crime Information - Qualifying Offenses
Adjudication Date Crime Description Court Case Number Jurisdiction & State Adjudication
09/27/2016 Lewd or lascivious molestation victim 12-15 years old offender 18 or older; F.S. 800.04(5)(c)(2) (PRINCIPAL IN ATEMPT (3 COUNTS)) 1513312 Sarasota, FL Guilty/convict
Victim Information
Gender:Female Minor:Yes
Link to FDLE QR Code for Offender Website
Subject's Flyer QR Code for Offender Flyer
NEW SEARCH
CAUTION! If you reached this flyer from any site other than FDLE's Florida Sexual Offender and Predator homepage, FDLE cannot guarantee the timeliness of the information you are viewing. To receive the most current information regarding registered sexual offenders or sexual predators registered with the State of Florida please conduct an "Offender Search" from FDLE's website located at http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender
If further information is needed, please contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement EIS-MPOR Data Management and Development Team at (1-888-357-7332) between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
Positive identification cannot be established unless a fingerprint comparison is made.
Any person who misuses public records information relating to a sexual predator, as defined in this section, or a sexual offender, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree. Please see 775.21(10)(c) for more information.