http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2017/03/08/martial-arts-mitchells-plea-wicomico/98898912/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=
Karate teacher pleads guilty to sex abuse of 3 students
Henry Culvyhouse , [email protected]
Published 11:19 a.m. ET March 8, 2017 | Updated 7 hours ago
Zachriah Bennett
(Photo: Image by Wicomico County Detention Center)
EDITORS NOTE: Earlier versions of this article contained information on the relationship of Zachariah Bennett and R.S. Mitchell. That information has been deleted while we further investigate the source of that statement.
A former martial arts instructor was in court Wednesday for a plea hearing a day after he pleaded guilty to a sex abuse charge in a neighboring county.
Zachariah Bennett, 26, of Salisbury entered a guilty plea to three counts of sex abuse of a minor Wednesday morning in Wicomico County Circuit Court. He faces a maximum of 75 years in prison on the charges, but prosecutors have asked Judge Donald Davis to cap the sentence at 45 years when he returns to court in May.
Bennett faced a total of 29 charges in Wicomico County and five in Worcester after two separate indictments were returned in November 2016. The remaining charges in Wicomico are expected to be dropped. Four charges were dropped in Worcester on Tuesday as a result of the plea.
Wicomico prosecutors also recommended his total serve time not exceed 50 years between the two counties. Due to the nature of the charges, Bennett will be listed as a Tier III sex offender upon release, which means lifetime registration as a sex offender. The state sex offender registry shows 166 sex offenders living in Wicomico County.
RELATED: Martial arts teacher pleads guilty to sex abuse of minor in Worcester County
Bennett was charged in October 2016. Further investigation found Bennett had sexually abused the three girls inside Mitchell's Martial Arts, located at 1305 S. Division St. in Salisbury, court records show.
Investigators said Bennett groomed the girls via sexually explicit text messages, then engaged in sexual activities with them between 2014 and 2016. During the investigation, authorities said they found evidence 21-year-old Leah Wright, a fellow employee, helped Bennett groom one victim and stood as a look-out while he sexually abused the victim in a bathroom at the martial arts studio.
Wright, who is scheduled for trial May 9, participated in a sexual act that involved both Bennett and a victim in the DJ booth at the facility, according to court records.
While most of the acts occurred at Mitchell's Martial Arts, investigators uncovered evidence Bennett sexually abused a 13-year-old girl inside a van at Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City, according to Assistant State's Attorney Karen Dean. He is scheduled for a June 9 sentencing in the Worcester case, according to online court records.
Background:Mitchell's Martial Arts case yields more indictments
Dean said Bennett began as a student at the school when he was 12. Bennett was supposed to take over the school one day, according to Dean.
Following the hearing, Mitchell said, "Today justice was served."
Both Dean and Salisbury attorney Anders Randup III, who represented Bennett, declined to comment after the hearing. Bennett will be held without bond at the Wicomico County Detention Center pending sentencing.
410-845-4639
Twitter: @hculvyhousedmv
Karate teacher pleads guilty to sex abuse of 3 students
Henry Culvyhouse , [email protected]
Published 11:19 a.m. ET March 8, 2017 | Updated 7 hours ago
Zachriah Bennett
(Photo: Image by Wicomico County Detention Center)
EDITORS NOTE: Earlier versions of this article contained information on the relationship of Zachariah Bennett and R.S. Mitchell. That information has been deleted while we further investigate the source of that statement.
A former martial arts instructor was in court Wednesday for a plea hearing a day after he pleaded guilty to a sex abuse charge in a neighboring county.
Zachariah Bennett, 26, of Salisbury entered a guilty plea to three counts of sex abuse of a minor Wednesday morning in Wicomico County Circuit Court. He faces a maximum of 75 years in prison on the charges, but prosecutors have asked Judge Donald Davis to cap the sentence at 45 years when he returns to court in May.
Bennett faced a total of 29 charges in Wicomico County and five in Worcester after two separate indictments were returned in November 2016. The remaining charges in Wicomico are expected to be dropped. Four charges were dropped in Worcester on Tuesday as a result of the plea.
Wicomico prosecutors also recommended his total serve time not exceed 50 years between the two counties. Due to the nature of the charges, Bennett will be listed as a Tier III sex offender upon release, which means lifetime registration as a sex offender. The state sex offender registry shows 166 sex offenders living in Wicomico County.
RELATED: Martial arts teacher pleads guilty to sex abuse of minor in Worcester County
Bennett was charged in October 2016. Further investigation found Bennett had sexually abused the three girls inside Mitchell's Martial Arts, located at 1305 S. Division St. in Salisbury, court records show.
Investigators said Bennett groomed the girls via sexually explicit text messages, then engaged in sexual activities with them between 2014 and 2016. During the investigation, authorities said they found evidence 21-year-old Leah Wright, a fellow employee, helped Bennett groom one victim and stood as a look-out while he sexually abused the victim in a bathroom at the martial arts studio.
Wright, who is scheduled for trial May 9, participated in a sexual act that involved both Bennett and a victim in the DJ booth at the facility, according to court records.
While most of the acts occurred at Mitchell's Martial Arts, investigators uncovered evidence Bennett sexually abused a 13-year-old girl inside a van at Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City, according to Assistant State's Attorney Karen Dean. He is scheduled for a June 9 sentencing in the Worcester case, according to online court records.
Background:Mitchell's Martial Arts case yields more indictments
Dean said Bennett began as a student at the school when he was 12. Bennett was supposed to take over the school one day, according to Dean.
Following the hearing, Mitchell said, "Today justice was served."
Both Dean and Salisbury attorney Anders Randup III, who represented Bennett, declined to comment after the hearing. Bennett will be held without bond at the Wicomico County Detention Center pending sentencing.
410-845-4639
Twitter: @hculvyhousedmv
http://www.wmdt.com/news/more-local-news/martial-arts-instructor-charged-with-rape/42111056
UPDATE: Statement from Mitchell's Martial Arts after instructor faces rape charges
Natalie Changlin, Producer, [email protected]
POSTED: 05:12 PM EDT Oct 14, 2016 UPDATED: 02:01 PM EDT Oct 16, 2016
Statement from Mitchell's Martial Arts
SALISBURY, Md. -
A Martial Arts instructor in Salisbury is now facing multiple rape charges involving minors.
Zachariah "Zack" Bennett, 26, of Salisbury, was taken into custody Thursday night.
Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis tells 47 ABC Bennett was a Martial Arts instructor at Mitchell's Martial Arts. We're told multiple victims have come forward and that those alleged victims were his students at some point.
According to online court documents, Bennett faces first degree Rape, Child Abuse, Sexual Solicitation of a Minor, and several other charges; 27 in total. Those documents also show Bennett has been committed to the Wicomico County Detention Center.
A lawyer at Mitchell's Martial Arts tell 47 ABC Bennett was terminated as soon as the business was made aware of the accusations. M.J. Caldwell, the attorney representing Mitchell's Martial Arts tells us they are cooperating fully with the investigation and released the following statement:
"We are aware of the incident. We take the safety and security of our staff and guests very seriously. We intend to uphold and enforce the highest standards of conduct as we move forward with our business," says Caldwell.
47 ABC will bring you more information as details come in to our news room.
Authorities are urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim to call the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office at (410) 548-4891.
Copyright 2016 by WMDT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
UPDATE: Statement from Mitchell's Martial Arts after instructor faces rape charges
Natalie Changlin, Producer, [email protected]
POSTED: 05:12 PM EDT Oct 14, 2016 UPDATED: 02:01 PM EDT Oct 16, 2016
Statement from Mitchell's Martial Arts
SALISBURY, Md. -
A Martial Arts instructor in Salisbury is now facing multiple rape charges involving minors.
Zachariah "Zack" Bennett, 26, of Salisbury, was taken into custody Thursday night.
Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis tells 47 ABC Bennett was a Martial Arts instructor at Mitchell's Martial Arts. We're told multiple victims have come forward and that those alleged victims were his students at some point.
According to online court documents, Bennett faces first degree Rape, Child Abuse, Sexual Solicitation of a Minor, and several other charges; 27 in total. Those documents also show Bennett has been committed to the Wicomico County Detention Center.
A lawyer at Mitchell's Martial Arts tell 47 ABC Bennett was terminated as soon as the business was made aware of the accusations. M.J. Caldwell, the attorney representing Mitchell's Martial Arts tells us they are cooperating fully with the investigation and released the following statement:
"We are aware of the incident. We take the safety and security of our staff and guests very seriously. We intend to uphold and enforce the highest standards of conduct as we move forward with our business," says Caldwell.
47 ABC will bring you more information as details come in to our news room.
Authorities are urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim to call the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office at (410) 548-4891.
Copyright 2016 by WMDT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.