http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/NC/20160408/News/605038420/LD/
the-dispatch.com
Martial arts teacher accepts plea in indecent liberties case
Darrick Ignasiak The Dispatch
A man who helped teach martial arts in Welcome accepted a plea Thursday to having inappropriate contact with one of his former students.
William Sapp, 45, of 2027 Memorial Road, Yadkinville, pleaded no contest to two counts of indecent liberties with a child. He received three years of supervised probation and a suspended sentence of between two years, eight months and four years, 10 months in prison. Under the plea, a second-degree sex offense charge was dismissed.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation Aug. 5, 2014, in regard to a sexual assault. The DCSO previously indicated that deputies discovered during the investigation that Sapp, who helped teach at Bill Daniels Karate on Old U.S. Highway 52, sexually assaulted a male juvenile. After the initial incident, a second juvenile came forward and also claimed Sapp sexually assaulted him.
Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Rob Taylor said he had at least two of Sapp’s students who were involved in inappropriate conversations that amounted to indecent liberties with a minor and some allegations of touching. Taylor said the victims were 15- and 16-year-olds at the time of the offenses. He said one of the victims died this year after being in a traffic accident in Davidson County.
Taylor said it was hard to say exactly how many victims are involved. Some didn’t want to come forward, he said.
“I know our sheriff’s department had contact with at least three to four other young boys who would have indicated clearly creepy, inappropriate conversations, not touching that I know of,” the prosecutor said.
Taylor said it appeared that the case was going to go to trial, but the victim’s death occurred. There was an issue on whether statements from the deceased teen could be used, but in the end prosecutors decided to offer a plea.
“We made a good argument for satellite-based monitoring because our position is that there are so many victims that appear to be out there, he is a danger to kids, more than just the other sex offenders who are placed on the list,” Taylor said. “The judge agreed with us and ordered him to 20 years to satellite-based monitoring.”
Taylor said it’s now a violation of Sapp’s probation if he associates with any minor under the age of 18 without a supervising adult being present. That adult must be aware of Sapp’s abusive pattern, the assistant district attorney said. Taylor said Sapp as a registered sex offender can’t be at a martial arts instructor’s academy because there are regularly scheduled events with minors.
Bill Daniels is the owner of Bill Daniels Karate. He said Sapp was not on his payroll but did come by his school to work out. Daniels said Sapp did work with some of the students but was under the direct supervision of his black belts.
Daniels said Sapp was destitute and had no place to live or a vehicle. He said out of the kindness of one of his students' mothers, he was allowed to live with that family for four to five months. Daniels said that student told his mother about the alleged misconduct involving Sapp. He said some of the allegations happened in that residence.
Daniels said he was glad justice was served and Sapp would wear an ankle bracelet for the next 20 years. He said Sapp also would be on the sex offender registry for the next 30 years.
Some of the allegations did happen at Bill Daniels Karate, Capt. DeWayne Miller of the DCSO confirmed Friday afternoon. Daniels said he couldn't comment on those allegations.
Efforts to reach Sapp's attorney were not immediately successful.
Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 217, or [email protected]. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick
the-dispatch.com
Martial arts teacher accepts plea in indecent liberties case
Darrick Ignasiak The Dispatch
A man who helped teach martial arts in Welcome accepted a plea Thursday to having inappropriate contact with one of his former students.
William Sapp, 45, of 2027 Memorial Road, Yadkinville, pleaded no contest to two counts of indecent liberties with a child. He received three years of supervised probation and a suspended sentence of between two years, eight months and four years, 10 months in prison. Under the plea, a second-degree sex offense charge was dismissed.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation Aug. 5, 2014, in regard to a sexual assault. The DCSO previously indicated that deputies discovered during the investigation that Sapp, who helped teach at Bill Daniels Karate on Old U.S. Highway 52, sexually assaulted a male juvenile. After the initial incident, a second juvenile came forward and also claimed Sapp sexually assaulted him.
Davidson County Assistant District Attorney Rob Taylor said he had at least two of Sapp’s students who were involved in inappropriate conversations that amounted to indecent liberties with a minor and some allegations of touching. Taylor said the victims were 15- and 16-year-olds at the time of the offenses. He said one of the victims died this year after being in a traffic accident in Davidson County.
Taylor said it was hard to say exactly how many victims are involved. Some didn’t want to come forward, he said.
“I know our sheriff’s department had contact with at least three to four other young boys who would have indicated clearly creepy, inappropriate conversations, not touching that I know of,” the prosecutor said.
Taylor said it appeared that the case was going to go to trial, but the victim’s death occurred. There was an issue on whether statements from the deceased teen could be used, but in the end prosecutors decided to offer a plea.
“We made a good argument for satellite-based monitoring because our position is that there are so many victims that appear to be out there, he is a danger to kids, more than just the other sex offenders who are placed on the list,” Taylor said. “The judge agreed with us and ordered him to 20 years to satellite-based monitoring.”
Taylor said it’s now a violation of Sapp’s probation if he associates with any minor under the age of 18 without a supervising adult being present. That adult must be aware of Sapp’s abusive pattern, the assistant district attorney said. Taylor said Sapp as a registered sex offender can’t be at a martial arts instructor’s academy because there are regularly scheduled events with minors.
Bill Daniels is the owner of Bill Daniels Karate. He said Sapp was not on his payroll but did come by his school to work out. Daniels said Sapp did work with some of the students but was under the direct supervision of his black belts.
Daniels said Sapp was destitute and had no place to live or a vehicle. He said out of the kindness of one of his students' mothers, he was allowed to live with that family for four to five months. Daniels said that student told his mother about the alleged misconduct involving Sapp. He said some of the allegations happened in that residence.
Daniels said he was glad justice was served and Sapp would wear an ankle bracelet for the next 20 years. He said Sapp also would be on the sex offender registry for the next 30 years.
Some of the allegations did happen at Bill Daniels Karate, Capt. DeWayne Miller of the DCSO confirmed Friday afternoon. Daniels said he couldn't comment on those allegations.
Efforts to reach Sapp's attorney were not immediately successful.
Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 217, or [email protected]. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick
http://myfox8.com/2016/05/12/2-davidson-county-mothers-share-story-of-fighting-for-justice-after-sons-molested-no-jail-time-for-sex-offender/
2 Davidson County mothers fight for justice after sons molested, no jail time for sex offender
Posted 8:10 pm, May 12, 2016, by Carter Coyle, Updated at 08:18PM, May 12, 2016
This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. -- Two mothers in Davidson County are sharing their heartbreaking story of trying to fight for justice after their sons were molested in 2014.
We'll refer to the moms as "Vicki" and "Jennifer" to protect the identities of the victims involved.
(Credit: N.C. Sex Offender Registry)
(Credit: N.C. Sex Offender Registry)
William Odell Sapp first showed up at Bill Daniels' karate studio in Welcome in 2013, Daniels tells FOX8. "I had heard of him but I had never met him and he just walked in my school one day."
Daniels says it's tradition to let fellow black belts work out in your studio. In this case, he said, Sapp was talented in martial arts and even started teaching the kids Jiu Jitsu.
"He was around for close to a year probably before we found out the type of person he really was," Daniels said.
In June 2014, one of the teenage boys at the studio disclosed to his mother that Sapp was molesting him and was sending and asking for inappropriate pictures.
Vicki still remembers when her son told her what was happening. "I said honey, something doesn't seem right. So I'm gonna ask you one time. Has something happened?" she explained through tears. "And he just started wailing the worst wails I have ever heard in my life."
Vicki said she was devastated and enraged. She rushed home and called Sapp, insisting on speaking to him in person, but not yet telling him what her son had said.
"I walked in the door. And I loaded the shotgun. And I paced and I paced," she remembered. "My cell phone rang and it was my son. He said, 'Mama, don't you dare kill him because you're all I've got. I can't lose you, too.' And that is the only reason I didn't kill that man that day."
Within days, another 15-year-old boy, Jennifer's son, claimed he had been sexually assaulted by Sapp at the dojo one night.
Jennifer had enrolled her son at the karate school to help with her son's behavior issues, and it was really helping at first. "He excelled at it. Mr. Sapp kinda reeled him in that way because he told him he was the best he had had, the best he had coached."
She still carries a lot of guilt. "I was devastated because I put my trust into this person to try to help my child. The whole time I was pushing him to spend time with a predator. I should have known better."
The women said they called investigators immediately. The Davidson County Sheriff's Office tells FOX8 there wasn't enough evidence to move forward at first.
The women decided to notify Social Services, and they said that's what ultimately sparked an investigation. Law enforcement got involved and arrested Sapp four months later. He was charged with second-degree sex offense and indecent liberties with a child.
The families were in and out of court throughout 2015 and into 2016.
Bill Daniels went to every court date, too. He notified Piedmont karate studios to be cautious if Sapp came around.
Daniels says people still question why he'd want his name and business publicly associated with this case. "Why? Two young men's lives were destroyed in my care. The buck stops here. I allowed him in there. It's my fault. I will see to it that it never happens again. And he doesn't want to meet me anywhere."
Daniels said he implemented changes to restrict who can work out at his studio and no one is allowed alone with the kids.
Just as life was moving on and they were looking forward to getting justice for their sons, tragedy hit.
Jennifer's son was killed in a horrible car accident in early 2016.
"My son's passing got rid of one of the highest charges," she explained.
They said the D.A. had to make a deal with Sapp last month or risk losing the case without her son alive to testify. "So he's not spending any time in jail. None."
Sapp pleaded to the lesser indecent liberties charges. He will serve probation and wear a monitoring device for 20 years. He's also not allowed around children or karate schools and he is a registered sex offender. His address is listed in Yadkin County now.
"But," Jennifer insisted, "Just because he's got an ankle bracelet on does not mean that he can't potentially hurt another child."
The moms agreed to the plea deal. They don't blame the D.A. But they don't entirely feel justice was served. They're concerned Sapp isn't behind bars. They'd like to see stricter punishments in general for sex offenders in our state.
"The punishment for these type of people is nowhere near what it needs to be," Vicki insisted.
They hope their story will let other victims of abuse know they are not alone.
"If we don't stand up and if we don't give our children a voice, then this type of thing will continue."
2 Davidson County mothers fight for justice after sons molested, no jail time for sex offender
Posted 8:10 pm, May 12, 2016, by Carter Coyle, Updated at 08:18PM, May 12, 2016
This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. -- Two mothers in Davidson County are sharing their heartbreaking story of trying to fight for justice after their sons were molested in 2014.
We'll refer to the moms as "Vicki" and "Jennifer" to protect the identities of the victims involved.
(Credit: N.C. Sex Offender Registry)
(Credit: N.C. Sex Offender Registry)
William Odell Sapp first showed up at Bill Daniels' karate studio in Welcome in 2013, Daniels tells FOX8. "I had heard of him but I had never met him and he just walked in my school one day."
Daniels says it's tradition to let fellow black belts work out in your studio. In this case, he said, Sapp was talented in martial arts and even started teaching the kids Jiu Jitsu.
"He was around for close to a year probably before we found out the type of person he really was," Daniels said.
In June 2014, one of the teenage boys at the studio disclosed to his mother that Sapp was molesting him and was sending and asking for inappropriate pictures.
Vicki still remembers when her son told her what was happening. "I said honey, something doesn't seem right. So I'm gonna ask you one time. Has something happened?" she explained through tears. "And he just started wailing the worst wails I have ever heard in my life."
Vicki said she was devastated and enraged. She rushed home and called Sapp, insisting on speaking to him in person, but not yet telling him what her son had said.
"I walked in the door. And I loaded the shotgun. And I paced and I paced," she remembered. "My cell phone rang and it was my son. He said, 'Mama, don't you dare kill him because you're all I've got. I can't lose you, too.' And that is the only reason I didn't kill that man that day."
Within days, another 15-year-old boy, Jennifer's son, claimed he had been sexually assaulted by Sapp at the dojo one night.
Jennifer had enrolled her son at the karate school to help with her son's behavior issues, and it was really helping at first. "He excelled at it. Mr. Sapp kinda reeled him in that way because he told him he was the best he had had, the best he had coached."
She still carries a lot of guilt. "I was devastated because I put my trust into this person to try to help my child. The whole time I was pushing him to spend time with a predator. I should have known better."
The women said they called investigators immediately. The Davidson County Sheriff's Office tells FOX8 there wasn't enough evidence to move forward at first.
The women decided to notify Social Services, and they said that's what ultimately sparked an investigation. Law enforcement got involved and arrested Sapp four months later. He was charged with second-degree sex offense and indecent liberties with a child.
The families were in and out of court throughout 2015 and into 2016.
Bill Daniels went to every court date, too. He notified Piedmont karate studios to be cautious if Sapp came around.
Daniels says people still question why he'd want his name and business publicly associated with this case. "Why? Two young men's lives were destroyed in my care. The buck stops here. I allowed him in there. It's my fault. I will see to it that it never happens again. And he doesn't want to meet me anywhere."
Daniels said he implemented changes to restrict who can work out at his studio and no one is allowed alone with the kids.
Just as life was moving on and they were looking forward to getting justice for their sons, tragedy hit.
Jennifer's son was killed in a horrible car accident in early 2016.
"My son's passing got rid of one of the highest charges," she explained.
They said the D.A. had to make a deal with Sapp last month or risk losing the case without her son alive to testify. "So he's not spending any time in jail. None."
Sapp pleaded to the lesser indecent liberties charges. He will serve probation and wear a monitoring device for 20 years. He's also not allowed around children or karate schools and he is a registered sex offender. His address is listed in Yadkin County now.
"But," Jennifer insisted, "Just because he's got an ankle bracelet on does not mean that he can't potentially hurt another child."
The moms agreed to the plea deal. They don't blame the D.A. But they don't entirely feel justice was served. They're concerned Sapp isn't behind bars. They'd like to see stricter punishments in general for sex offenders in our state.
"The punishment for these type of people is nowhere near what it needs to be," Vicki insisted.
They hope their story will let other victims of abuse know they are not alone.
"If we don't stand up and if we don't give our children a voice, then this type of thing will continue."