https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900016967/former-karate-instructor-sentenced-to-prison-for-sexually-abusing-teen.html
Former karate instructor sentenced to prison for sexually abusing teen
By
McKenzie Romero
@McKenzieRomero
Published: April 25, 2018 6:08 pm
Charges: Ex-Clearfield karate instructor raped teen victim again
Investigation into Clearfield karate instructor not over, police say
Clearfield karate instructor charged with raping teen student
FARMINGTON — A former karate instructor from Clearfield has been sentenced to prison for repeatedly sexually abusing a teen girl he taught.
Damian Tyler Fullmer, who turned 21 this month, was sentenced April 16 in two criminal cases alleging he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, then continued to have sex with the teen even after his arrest. He is expected to spend at least two years and up to 30 years in prison.
Fullmer was 19 when he met the girl through his job as a karate instructor, according to court documents. He was fired from the job following his arrest.
In court documents filed as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors in February, Fullmer admitted to sexual activity with the girl between September 2016 and April 2017. The girl told police that Fuller was her "sensei" and she would sneak out of her house to meet him, and that two exchanged inappropriate images with each other via text message and social media.
Investigators located 157 pictures of the girl on Fullmer's cellphone, including 43 images exposing the girl's body, court documents state. Five images, including three apparently taken at the karate studio, showed the two engaging in sexual activity, according to court documents.
Between the two cases filed in November, Fullmer was charged with a total of seven counts of rape, nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of forcible sodomy.
In the first case, Fullmer pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible sexual abuse and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, all second-degree felonies. He was sentenced last week to concurrent sentences of at least one and up to 15 years in prison for each of the charges.
In the second case, Fullmer pleaded guilty to one count of forcible sexual abuse and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, second-degree felonies. He was sentenced for those charges to concurrent prison terms of one to 15 years.
The sentences in the two cases were ordered to run back-to-back. The remaining charges against Fullmer were dismissed as part of the deal.
Prior to the sentencing, Fullmer's attorney, Brad Anderson, filed a memorandum indicating that because Adult Probation and Parole officials were recommending jail time in the case, and considering Fullmer's age and family support, a jail sentence would be appropriate.
"Mr. Fullmer was only 19 at the time he committed these offenses and while the law of this state considers him to be an adult, scientifically Mr. Fullmer was, and still is, an adolescent," Anderson wrote.
Anderson went on to say, "There is no question that Mr. Fullmer's offenses are very serious. Mr. Fullmer violated the trust of his students and the entire community. The defendant made no excuses for his behavior and took full responsibility. It is clear that he has remorse for his conduct and how it has impacted the victim and so many others."
Former karate instructor sentenced to prison for sexually abusing teen
By
McKenzie Romero
@McKenzieRomero
Published: April 25, 2018 6:08 pm
Charges: Ex-Clearfield karate instructor raped teen victim again
Investigation into Clearfield karate instructor not over, police say
Clearfield karate instructor charged with raping teen student
FARMINGTON — A former karate instructor from Clearfield has been sentenced to prison for repeatedly sexually abusing a teen girl he taught.
Damian Tyler Fullmer, who turned 21 this month, was sentenced April 16 in two criminal cases alleging he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, then continued to have sex with the teen even after his arrest. He is expected to spend at least two years and up to 30 years in prison.
Fullmer was 19 when he met the girl through his job as a karate instructor, according to court documents. He was fired from the job following his arrest.
In court documents filed as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors in February, Fullmer admitted to sexual activity with the girl between September 2016 and April 2017. The girl told police that Fuller was her "sensei" and she would sneak out of her house to meet him, and that two exchanged inappropriate images with each other via text message and social media.
Investigators located 157 pictures of the girl on Fullmer's cellphone, including 43 images exposing the girl's body, court documents state. Five images, including three apparently taken at the karate studio, showed the two engaging in sexual activity, according to court documents.
Between the two cases filed in November, Fullmer was charged with a total of seven counts of rape, nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of forcible sodomy.
In the first case, Fullmer pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible sexual abuse and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, all second-degree felonies. He was sentenced last week to concurrent sentences of at least one and up to 15 years in prison for each of the charges.
In the second case, Fullmer pleaded guilty to one count of forcible sexual abuse and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, second-degree felonies. He was sentenced for those charges to concurrent prison terms of one to 15 years.
The sentences in the two cases were ordered to run back-to-back. The remaining charges against Fullmer were dismissed as part of the deal.
Prior to the sentencing, Fullmer's attorney, Brad Anderson, filed a memorandum indicating that because Adult Probation and Parole officials were recommending jail time in the case, and considering Fullmer's age and family support, a jail sentence would be appropriate.
"Mr. Fullmer was only 19 at the time he committed these offenses and while the law of this state considers him to be an adult, scientifically Mr. Fullmer was, and still is, an adolescent," Anderson wrote.
Anderson went on to say, "There is no question that Mr. Fullmer's offenses are very serious. Mr. Fullmer violated the trust of his students and the entire community. The defendant made no excuses for his behavior and took full responsibility. It is clear that he has remorse for his conduct and how it has impacted the victim and so many others."
http://kutv.com/news/local/former-davis-county-karate-instructor-jailed-again-for-sexual-abuse-of-teen-girl
Former Davis County karate instructor jailed again for sexual abuse of teen girl
by Daniel Woodruff, KUTV
Tuesday, November 14th 2017
(KUTV) Almost seven months after being arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor, a former karate instructor is in jail again accused of the same crime.
Damian Fullmer, 20, of Clearfield was booked into the Davis County Jail Monday afternoon. He now faces a slew of new charges including rape and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Fullmer was originally arrested in April and charged earlier this month with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who was his karate student at Evolutionary Martial Arts in Syracuse.
Now, Fullmer is accused of maintaining sexual contact with the teen even after getting arrested.
Former Davis County karate instructor jailed again for sexual abuse of teen girl https://t.co/NJjsEBF4kN
— Daniel Woodruff (@danielmwoodruff) November 14, 2017
According to charging documents, Fullmer began to communicate with the teen on social media after his arrest, bought her a “burner phone,” and saw her “at least every week.”
“The victim disclosed that between June and October 13, 2017, the Defendant had her sneak out of her house, took her to his residence, engaged in sexual intercourse, and then took her back home in the morning before her parents woke up,” prosecutors wrote in charging documents filed in Second District Court.
Prosecutors also said Fullmer picked up the girl from soccer camp during the summer to “engage in sexual activity with her” in Weber County.
Fullmer remained in jail Tuesday afternoon. Bail was set at $500,000. The Davis County Attorney’s Office did not have any comment beyond the contents of the charging documents.
According to online court records, Fullmer is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday on the latest charges and on Nov. 27 for the earlier allegations.
Former Davis County karate instructor jailed again for sexual abuse of teen girl
by Daniel Woodruff, KUTV
Tuesday, November 14th 2017
(KUTV) Almost seven months after being arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor, a former karate instructor is in jail again accused of the same crime.
Damian Fullmer, 20, of Clearfield was booked into the Davis County Jail Monday afternoon. He now faces a slew of new charges including rape and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Fullmer was originally arrested in April and charged earlier this month with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who was his karate student at Evolutionary Martial Arts in Syracuse.
Now, Fullmer is accused of maintaining sexual contact with the teen even after getting arrested.
Former Davis County karate instructor jailed again for sexual abuse of teen girl https://t.co/NJjsEBF4kN
— Daniel Woodruff (@danielmwoodruff) November 14, 2017
According to charging documents, Fullmer began to communicate with the teen on social media after his arrest, bought her a “burner phone,” and saw her “at least every week.”
“The victim disclosed that between June and October 13, 2017, the Defendant had her sneak out of her house, took her to his residence, engaged in sexual intercourse, and then took her back home in the morning before her parents woke up,” prosecutors wrote in charging documents filed in Second District Court.
Prosecutors also said Fullmer picked up the girl from soccer camp during the summer to “engage in sexual activity with her” in Weber County.
Fullmer remained in jail Tuesday afternoon. Bail was set at $500,000. The Davis County Attorney’s Office did not have any comment beyond the contents of the charging documents.
According to online court records, Fullmer is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday on the latest charges and on Nov. 27 for the earlier allegations.
http://kutv.com/news/local/karate-teacher-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-student
Karate teacher accused of sexually assaulting student
by Cristina Flores, KUTV
Thursday, April 20th 2017
CLEARFIELD, Utah — (KUTV) Damian Tyler Fullmer, a 20-year-old karate teacher from Clearfield, was arrested on suspicion of child rape.
Clearfield Police Sgt. Kyle Jeffries said the alleged abuse did not happen at the Syracuse school where Fullmer teaches, but the victims is one of Fullmer's former students.
"We don't believe the owners of the business had any idea this was going on," Jeffries said.
Jeffries said Fullmer took advantage of his position of trust to get the girl to have a sexual relationship with him for about six months.
Jeffries said there is evidence of the crime in text messages exchanged between Fullmer and the girl.
Although police have no reason to believe there are other victims, they made the arrest public to make sure.
"Parents need to talk to their children, especially in this case, to see if they did have contact with this suspect," Jeffries said.
On the day Fullmer was arrested, parents showed up at Evolutionary Martial Arts in Syracuse to find the school closed early.
They defended the school.
Ron Higginson, who takes his 6-year-old grandson to karate lessons, said he will not take the boy out of lessons despite the news.
He said Fullmer was always professional when he was around him.
Higginson said the arrest does not change his opinion of the school.
"It's a great school,"he said.
Karate teacher accused of sexually assaulting student
by Cristina Flores, KUTV
Thursday, April 20th 2017
CLEARFIELD, Utah — (KUTV) Damian Tyler Fullmer, a 20-year-old karate teacher from Clearfield, was arrested on suspicion of child rape.
Clearfield Police Sgt. Kyle Jeffries said the alleged abuse did not happen at the Syracuse school where Fullmer teaches, but the victims is one of Fullmer's former students.
"We don't believe the owners of the business had any idea this was going on," Jeffries said.
Jeffries said Fullmer took advantage of his position of trust to get the girl to have a sexual relationship with him for about six months.
Jeffries said there is evidence of the crime in text messages exchanged between Fullmer and the girl.
Although police have no reason to believe there are other victims, they made the arrest public to make sure.
"Parents need to talk to their children, especially in this case, to see if they did have contact with this suspect," Jeffries said.
On the day Fullmer was arrested, parents showed up at Evolutionary Martial Arts in Syracuse to find the school closed early.
They defended the school.
Ron Higginson, who takes his 6-year-old grandson to karate lessons, said he will not take the boy out of lessons despite the news.
He said Fullmer was always professional when he was around him.
Higginson said the arrest does not change his opinion of the school.
"It's a great school,"he said.