http://wnep.com/2017/11/14/karate-instructor-guilty-of-indecent-assault-corruption-of-minors/
Karate Instructor Guilty of Indecent Assault, Corruption of Minors
Posted 5:57 pm, November 14, 2017, by Bill Michlowsk
SCRANTON -- A karate instructor from Lackawanna County was found guilty Tuesday of indecent assault and corruption of minors.
John Smith, the owner of Serenity Martial Arts in Clarks Summit, was arrested in January.
Court papers show Smith would spank a 9 year old, and on several occasions, dared him to take off his clothes while they were alone during lessons.
Filed in: News
Topics: clarks summit, corruption of minors, indecent assault, karate, lackawanna county
Karate Instructor Guilty of Indecent Assault, Corruption of Minors
Posted 5:57 pm, November 14, 2017, by Bill Michlowsk
SCRANTON -- A karate instructor from Lackawanna County was found guilty Tuesday of indecent assault and corruption of minors.
John Smith, the owner of Serenity Martial Arts in Clarks Summit, was arrested in January.
Court papers show Smith would spank a 9 year old, and on several occasions, dared him to take off his clothes while they were alone during lessons.
Filed in: News
Topics: clarks summit, corruption of minors, indecent assault, karate, lackawanna county
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/clarks-summit-karate-teacher-accused-of-indecently-assaulting-9-year-old-child-1.2141158
thetimes-tribune.com
Clarks Summit karate teacher accused of indecently assaulting 9 year old child - News
CLAYTON OVER, STAFF WRITER
JAKE DANNA STEVENS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
John Smith, 30, of Clarks Summit, owner of Serenity Martial Arts, is walked out of the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office Wednesday. He is charged with the indecent assault of a boy, 9.
Photo: N/A, License: N/A
A Clarks Summit karate teacher faces charges after county detectives say the man spanked a 9-year-old boy’s bare buttocks and also had the child strip naked on several occasions.
John Smith, 30, 505 Highland Ave., was charged Wednesday with indecent assault, corruption of minors, simple assault and endangering the welfare of children. Mr. Smith is the owner of Serenity Martial Arts, 206 Depot St., according to court documents.
Investigators said the boy takes archery and karate lessons from Mr. Smith, also known as “Master John.” After archery lessons, the two would play a game called “Truth or Dare,” according to charging papers. The child said that on three or four occasions, Mr. Smith dared him to receive either 50 light spankings or 10 medium spankings and proceeded to spank the boy on his bare buttocks, authorities said.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual abuse.
Another time, the child told investigators Mr. Smith dared him to strip naked and jump up on a desk and, on another occasion, to strip down and climb a metal pole, according to court documents.
Mr. Smith said nothing Wednesday night as detectives led him from the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office to a vehicle to be taken for processing.
Magisterial District Judge Paul Ware arraigned Mr. Smith later in the evening and set bail at $200,000. He is jailed at Lackawanna County Prison. A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday.
Contact the writer:
[email protected],
@ClaytonOver on Twitter
thetimes-tribune.com
Clarks Summit karate teacher accused of indecently assaulting 9 year old child - News
CLAYTON OVER, STAFF WRITER
JAKE DANNA STEVENS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
John Smith, 30, of Clarks Summit, owner of Serenity Martial Arts, is walked out of the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office Wednesday. He is charged with the indecent assault of a boy, 9.
Photo: N/A, License: N/A
A Clarks Summit karate teacher faces charges after county detectives say the man spanked a 9-year-old boy’s bare buttocks and also had the child strip naked on several occasions.
John Smith, 30, 505 Highland Ave., was charged Wednesday with indecent assault, corruption of minors, simple assault and endangering the welfare of children. Mr. Smith is the owner of Serenity Martial Arts, 206 Depot St., according to court documents.
Investigators said the boy takes archery and karate lessons from Mr. Smith, also known as “Master John.” After archery lessons, the two would play a game called “Truth or Dare,” according to charging papers. The child said that on three or four occasions, Mr. Smith dared him to receive either 50 light spankings or 10 medium spankings and proceeded to spank the boy on his bare buttocks, authorities said.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual abuse.
Another time, the child told investigators Mr. Smith dared him to strip naked and jump up on a desk and, on another occasion, to strip down and climb a metal pole, according to court documents.
Mr. Smith said nothing Wednesday night as detectives led him from the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office to a vehicle to be taken for processing.
Magisterial District Judge Paul Ware arraigned Mr. Smith later in the evening and set bail at $200,000. He is jailed at Lackawanna County Prison. A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday.
Contact the writer:
[email protected],
@ClaytonOver on Twitter
http://www.pahomepage.com/news/residents-shocked-and-angered-by-arrest-of-karate-teacher/639867769
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Residents shocked and angered by arrest of karate teacher
John Smith was charged with indecent assault Wednesday night
By: Eric Deabill
Posted: Jan 12, 2017 04:35 PM EST
Updated: Jan 14, 2017 10:21 AM EST
Residents shocked and angered by arrest of karate teacher
Copyright 2017 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CLARKS SUMMIT, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) - People living in part of Lackawanna County are shocked and angry after a karate teacher was arrested on indecent assault charges.
As Eyewitness News first reported Wednesday night, John Smith, owner of Serenity Martial Arts is accused of inappropriately touching a nine-year-old boy.
Detectives say Smith played "truth of dare" with the boy, who was also a student.
On occasion, Smith would then spank the boy or dare him to get naked and climb on various objects.
As the Serenity Martial Arts building on Depot Street in Clarks Summit sat empty Thursday morning, people were angry to hear about the allegations against its owner.
"My gut reaction is total disgust," Ann Hogan of Peckville said.
Bob Michaels often saw the 30-year-old suspect alone with kids in his business.
"I've walked past it a couple times when he was teaching students and I don't mean to judge a book by its cover but he never gave me the right vibe no matter what," Michaels said.
According to court documents, this isn't John Smith's first brush with the law.
In 2005, South Abington Township police reportedly arrested him for corruption of minors on allegations of having contact with a younger boy. Smith was 19 years old at the time. He later pleaded guilty.
Now, people wonder how he could have had so much access to children.
"It's hard to believe it could happen up here where people are so protective of their children," Barbara Negvesky of Scott Township said.
Right on the wall of his karate studio, Smith posted a letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services which says he passed a child abuse history certification.
The Lackawanna County District Attorney is now looking into that.
"There appears to be a gap. It's something that we're looking into. Potentially, we will reach out to our legislator, our legislative body and see if we can get our criminal histories to communicate with the Department of Health (Human Services)," DA Shane Scanlon said.
As a karate teacher, Smith had a lot of access to children and prosecutors wonder if this case will only get bigger.
"It makes you wonder if there are potentially other victims out there," Scanlon said.
Eyewitness News reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services for comment Thursday afternoon. An employee said they would look into the matter but have currently not responded about the certification posted on Smith's wall.
John Smith was arraigned Wednesday night in Lackawanna County and remains locked-up on $200,000 bail.
(link not active, page not found on original server: archive of article shown here below)
Residents shocked and angered by arrest of karate teacher
John Smith was charged with indecent assault Wednesday night
By: Eric Deabill
Posted: Jan 12, 2017 04:35 PM EST
Updated: Jan 14, 2017 10:21 AM EST
Residents shocked and angered by arrest of karate teacher
Copyright 2017 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CLARKS SUMMIT, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) - People living in part of Lackawanna County are shocked and angry after a karate teacher was arrested on indecent assault charges.
As Eyewitness News first reported Wednesday night, John Smith, owner of Serenity Martial Arts is accused of inappropriately touching a nine-year-old boy.
Detectives say Smith played "truth of dare" with the boy, who was also a student.
On occasion, Smith would then spank the boy or dare him to get naked and climb on various objects.
As the Serenity Martial Arts building on Depot Street in Clarks Summit sat empty Thursday morning, people were angry to hear about the allegations against its owner.
"My gut reaction is total disgust," Ann Hogan of Peckville said.
Bob Michaels often saw the 30-year-old suspect alone with kids in his business.
"I've walked past it a couple times when he was teaching students and I don't mean to judge a book by its cover but he never gave me the right vibe no matter what," Michaels said.
According to court documents, this isn't John Smith's first brush with the law.
In 2005, South Abington Township police reportedly arrested him for corruption of minors on allegations of having contact with a younger boy. Smith was 19 years old at the time. He later pleaded guilty.
Now, people wonder how he could have had so much access to children.
"It's hard to believe it could happen up here where people are so protective of their children," Barbara Negvesky of Scott Township said.
Right on the wall of his karate studio, Smith posted a letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services which says he passed a child abuse history certification.
The Lackawanna County District Attorney is now looking into that.
"There appears to be a gap. It's something that we're looking into. Potentially, we will reach out to our legislator, our legislative body and see if we can get our criminal histories to communicate with the Department of Health (Human Services)," DA Shane Scanlon said.
As a karate teacher, Smith had a lot of access to children and prosecutors wonder if this case will only get bigger.
"It makes you wonder if there are potentially other victims out there," Scanlon said.
Eyewitness News reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services for comment Thursday afternoon. An employee said they would look into the matter but have currently not responded about the certification posted on Smith's wall.
John Smith was arraigned Wednesday night in Lackawanna County and remains locked-up on $200,000 bail.