http://gazette.com/former-colorado-springs-martial-arts-instructor-convicted-of-groping-teens/article/1622395
gazette.com
Former Colorado Springs martial arts instructor convicted of groping teens
By: Lance Benzel
4-5 minutes
An El Paso County jury on Friday convicted a former Colorado Springs martial arts instructor of groping one teen boy and trying to grope another during a sleepover - rejecting the argument that one of the victims could have hallucinated details of the attack.
Glenn Lainfiesta, 44, was found guilty of unlawful sexual contact, a misdemeanor, and attempted sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, a felony.
The seven-woman, five-man panel acquitted Lainfiesta of the most serious count against him, sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. It also concluded that he did not apply force, reducing any potential prison or jail sentence.
He faces one to three years in prison on one count and up to two years in jail on the other, but is also eligible for probation or a community-based jail alternative. Sentencing is scheduled for May 29. Lainfiesta, previously free on bond, was taken into custody after being convicted.
The jury announced its verdict after roughly five hours of deliberations, capping a three-day trial before 4th Judicial District Judge Larry E. Schwartz.
The victims met Lainfiesta at the Academy of Life and Leadership Taekwondo in Chapel Hills Mall, 1710 Briargate Blvd., where he had worked for two years as a sparring coach.
The case revolved around allegations that Lainfiesta made repeated advances to the boys after a family game night hosted by one of the victim's parents last April, starting with play-wresting and tickling and proceeding to frank sexual talk and unwanted touching.
After the parents had gone to sleep, Lainfiesta and the two teens, then 16 and 17, went to the basement to sleep. That's when the boys say Lainfiesta forcefully groped them, going so far as to pin one boy down.
In denying the charges, Lainfiesta's attorneys, public defenders Jenny Cox and Tony Gallegos, argued that one of the boys could have dreamed details of the assault during a hallucination.
That defense grew out of one boy's claim on the stand that he didn't push Lainfiesta away because he was in a "sleep paralysis state" and unable to move.
The defense seized on the detail and presented expert testimony that it's possible to hallucinate during such episodes. They said the boys had invented other details because Lainfiesta threatened to tell their parents they had been drinking alcohol.
Prosecutor Stephanie Redfield asked the jury to consider the remark about sleep paralysis from a different perspective - that of a teen boy trying to explain to strangers why he didn't put up a fight.
Jurors couldn't be reached for comment on the split verdict, but Redfield called it consistent with the finding that Lainfiesta wasn't a "person of trust" with respect to one of the victims. Lainfiesta served as a main coach and mentor for one of the teens, but had only sparred with the second boy on one or two occasions in the past two years.
The assaults had a devastating effect on the older of the two boys, putting him in "an emotional whirlwind" for the past year, his father said after the verdict. The Gazette, which normally withholds the names of sex assault victims, isn't identifying the father to protect the boy's identity.
"His grades have suffered. His demeanor has suffered," the man said. "This guy was a master in taekwondo. He broke that trust and he broke it in the worst way possible."
Lainfiesta had no prior criminal record. According to the prosecution, he had resigned from the taekwondo studio shortly before the assaults and had planned on moving back to California. The older boy's father said the family decided to invite him over to their standing family game night to thank him for his mentorship.
Lainfiesta arrived with a bottle of vodka and a gallon of orange juice, and the boy's father invited him to stay the night because they were concerned about him driving home, he said on the stand.
gazette.com
Former Colorado Springs martial arts instructor convicted of groping teens
By: Lance Benzel
4-5 minutes
An El Paso County jury on Friday convicted a former Colorado Springs martial arts instructor of groping one teen boy and trying to grope another during a sleepover - rejecting the argument that one of the victims could have hallucinated details of the attack.
Glenn Lainfiesta, 44, was found guilty of unlawful sexual contact, a misdemeanor, and attempted sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, a felony.
The seven-woman, five-man panel acquitted Lainfiesta of the most serious count against him, sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. It also concluded that he did not apply force, reducing any potential prison or jail sentence.
He faces one to three years in prison on one count and up to two years in jail on the other, but is also eligible for probation or a community-based jail alternative. Sentencing is scheduled for May 29. Lainfiesta, previously free on bond, was taken into custody after being convicted.
The jury announced its verdict after roughly five hours of deliberations, capping a three-day trial before 4th Judicial District Judge Larry E. Schwartz.
The victims met Lainfiesta at the Academy of Life and Leadership Taekwondo in Chapel Hills Mall, 1710 Briargate Blvd., where he had worked for two years as a sparring coach.
The case revolved around allegations that Lainfiesta made repeated advances to the boys after a family game night hosted by one of the victim's parents last April, starting with play-wresting and tickling and proceeding to frank sexual talk and unwanted touching.
After the parents had gone to sleep, Lainfiesta and the two teens, then 16 and 17, went to the basement to sleep. That's when the boys say Lainfiesta forcefully groped them, going so far as to pin one boy down.
In denying the charges, Lainfiesta's attorneys, public defenders Jenny Cox and Tony Gallegos, argued that one of the boys could have dreamed details of the assault during a hallucination.
That defense grew out of one boy's claim on the stand that he didn't push Lainfiesta away because he was in a "sleep paralysis state" and unable to move.
The defense seized on the detail and presented expert testimony that it's possible to hallucinate during such episodes. They said the boys had invented other details because Lainfiesta threatened to tell their parents they had been drinking alcohol.
Prosecutor Stephanie Redfield asked the jury to consider the remark about sleep paralysis from a different perspective - that of a teen boy trying to explain to strangers why he didn't put up a fight.
Jurors couldn't be reached for comment on the split verdict, but Redfield called it consistent with the finding that Lainfiesta wasn't a "person of trust" with respect to one of the victims. Lainfiesta served as a main coach and mentor for one of the teens, but had only sparred with the second boy on one or two occasions in the past two years.
The assaults had a devastating effect on the older of the two boys, putting him in "an emotional whirlwind" for the past year, his father said after the verdict. The Gazette, which normally withholds the names of sex assault victims, isn't identifying the father to protect the boy's identity.
"His grades have suffered. His demeanor has suffered," the man said. "This guy was a master in taekwondo. He broke that trust and he broke it in the worst way possible."
Lainfiesta had no prior criminal record. According to the prosecution, he had resigned from the taekwondo studio shortly before the assaults and had planned on moving back to California. The older boy's father said the family decided to invite him over to their standing family game night to thank him for his mentorship.
Lainfiesta arrived with a bottle of vodka and a gallon of orange juice, and the boy's father invited him to stay the night because they were concerned about him driving home, he said on the stand.
http://www.kktv.com/content/news/Colorado-Springs-Taekwondo-coach-convicted-for-sexual-assault-on-a-child-476431413.html
Colorado Springs Taekwondo coach convicted for sexual assault on a child
Glenn Allan Lanfiesta Photo courtesy: El Paso County Sheriff's Office
Posted: Fri 6:11 PM, Mar 09, 2018
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - A former coach in Colorado Springs was convicted of sexual assault on a child on Friday.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says 44-year-old Glenn Allan Lainfiesta had been working as a sparring coach at the Academy of Life and Leadership Taekwondo at the Chapel Hills Mall when the crime took place.
On April 8, 2017 Lainfiesta turned himself in on charges of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and unlawful sexual contact. On Friday, he was convicted of one felony criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and one misdemeanor unlawful sexual contact. He was acquitted of the other charges.
Lainfiesta's sentencing is scheduled for May 29.
Fans can get free tickets to watch Elway in U.S. Senior Open qualifier at the Broadmoor
Colorado Springs Taekwondo coach convicted for sexual assault on a child
Glenn Allan Lanfiesta Photo courtesy: El Paso County Sheriff's Office
Posted: Fri 6:11 PM, Mar 09, 2018
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - A former coach in Colorado Springs was convicted of sexual assault on a child on Friday.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says 44-year-old Glenn Allan Lainfiesta had been working as a sparring coach at the Academy of Life and Leadership Taekwondo at the Chapel Hills Mall when the crime took place.
On April 8, 2017 Lainfiesta turned himself in on charges of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and unlawful sexual contact. On Friday, he was convicted of one felony criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and one misdemeanor unlawful sexual contact. He was acquitted of the other charges.
Lainfiesta's sentencing is scheduled for May 29.
Fans can get free tickets to watch Elway in U.S. Senior Open qualifier at the Broadmoor
http://www.koaa.com/story/37692036/taekwondo-coach-convicted-of-sexual-assault-on-a-child
Taekwondo coach convicted of sexual assault on a child
Posted: Mar 09, 2018 7:23 PM EST
Updated: Mar 09, 2018 8:39 PM EST
Written By Tom Kackley
Connect
COLORADO SPRINGS -
A former Colorado Springs Taekwondo instructor was convicted Friday of attempting to molest a child.
Forty-four-year-old Glenn Lainfiesta was convicted of a criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child in a position of trust, which is a felony. He was also convicted of a misdemeanor count of unlawful sexual contact.
He was acquitted of a felony charge of sexual assault on a child in a position of trust.
Lainfiesta worked at Academy of Life and Leadership Taekwondo in the Chapel Hills Mall in Colorado Springs as a sparring coach, when deputies began investigating him in April 2017. He eventually turned himself in after deputies began looking for him.
He will remain in custody at the El Paso County jail until his sentencing, which is set for May 29.
Taekwondo coach convicted of sexual assault on a child
Posted: Mar 09, 2018 7:23 PM EST
Updated: Mar 09, 2018 8:39 PM EST
Written By Tom Kackley
Connect
COLORADO SPRINGS -
A former Colorado Springs Taekwondo instructor was convicted Friday of attempting to molest a child.
Forty-four-year-old Glenn Lainfiesta was convicted of a criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child in a position of trust, which is a felony. He was also convicted of a misdemeanor count of unlawful sexual contact.
He was acquitted of a felony charge of sexual assault on a child in a position of trust.
Lainfiesta worked at Academy of Life and Leadership Taekwondo in the Chapel Hills Mall in Colorado Springs as a sparring coach, when deputies began investigating him in April 2017. He eventually turned himself in after deputies began looking for him.
He will remain in custody at the El Paso County jail until his sentencing, which is set for May 29.
http://www.kktv.com/content/news/Sheriffs-office-looking-for-sex-assault-suspect-and-possible-additonal-victims-419762113.html
Sheriff's office looking for possible additional victims in sex assault case
Posted: Tue 3:16 PM, Apr 18, 2017 |
Updated: Wed 6:32 AM, Apr 19, 2017
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo (KKTV) - The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man they say is accused of sex assault.
The suspect, Glenn Lainfiesta, has been working for two years as a sparring coach at the Academy of Life and Leadership Taekwondo at Chapel Hills Mall in Colorado Springs. He has instructed an unknown number of juveniles. The sheriff's office is seeking information on anyone who may have been victimized by him.
Lainfiesta turned himself in Tuesday afternoon.
According to Lainfiesta's arrest affidavit, he was at a birthday party that a different family was hosting for him at their home. Lainfiesta reportedly told investigators that he had drank too much alcohol to drive so he was invited to spend the night.
The next day deputies received a call from a mother who said her son was sexually assaulted by Lainfiesta that night.
Court documents say Lainfiesta was sleeping on the floor with two underage boys when he reached into the sweatpants of one boy and touched the boy's privates.
The other boy reportedly told investigators Lainfiesta tried to touch his privates too while watching TV, but the boy stopped him.
Lainfiesta is now facing several charges including sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Patrick Gallagher at 719-520-7596 or at [email protected].
Fans can get free tickets to watch Elway in U.S. Senior Open qualifier at the Broadmoor
Sheriff's office looking for possible additional victims in sex assault case
Posted: Tue 3:16 PM, Apr 18, 2017 |
Updated: Wed 6:32 AM, Apr 19, 2017
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo (KKTV) - The El Paso County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man they say is accused of sex assault.
The suspect, Glenn Lainfiesta, has been working for two years as a sparring coach at the Academy of Life and Leadership Taekwondo at Chapel Hills Mall in Colorado Springs. He has instructed an unknown number of juveniles. The sheriff's office is seeking information on anyone who may have been victimized by him.
Lainfiesta turned himself in Tuesday afternoon.
According to Lainfiesta's arrest affidavit, he was at a birthday party that a different family was hosting for him at their home. Lainfiesta reportedly told investigators that he had drank too much alcohol to drive so he was invited to spend the night.
The next day deputies received a call from a mother who said her son was sexually assaulted by Lainfiesta that night.
Court documents say Lainfiesta was sleeping on the floor with two underage boys when he reached into the sweatpants of one boy and touched the boy's privates.
The other boy reportedly told investigators Lainfiesta tried to touch his privates too while watching TV, but the boy stopped him.
Lainfiesta is now facing several charges including sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Patrick Gallagher at 719-520-7596 or at [email protected].
Fans can get free tickets to watch Elway in U.S. Senior Open qualifier at the Broadmoor