https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/pompton-lakes/2019/03/19/former-pompton-lakes-nj-karate-teacher-convicted-sexually-assaulting-9-year-old/3211311002/
Former karate instructor convicted of sexually assaulting 9-year-old Bloomingdale girl
Kaitlyn Kanzler, North Jersey Record Published 12:25 p.m. ET March 19, 2019 | Updated 8:08 p.m. ET March 19, 2019
A former student assistant instructor at Porta's Karate Dojo Academy in Pompton Lakes was found guilty on March 12 of aggravated sexual assault.
Luke V. Bakula, 31, of the Haskell section of Wanaque sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl at the karate academy and her Bloomingdale home between November 2005 and July 2006, said Camelia Valdes, the Passaic County prosecutor.
Luke Bakula, 31, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl at the karate academy he worked at and her home between November 2005 and June 2006.
Luke Bakula, 31, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl at the karate academy he worked at and her home between November 2005 and June 2006. (Photo: Courtesy of Passaic County Prosecutor's Office)
After a four-week trial, Bakula was convicted of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
He is scheduled to be sentenced June 7 before Judge Joseph Portelli, who also presided over the jury trial. Bakula could spend a maximum of 40 years in prison and would have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Former karate instructor convicted of sexually assaulting 9-year-old Bloomingdale girl
Kaitlyn Kanzler, North Jersey Record Published 12:25 p.m. ET March 19, 2019 | Updated 8:08 p.m. ET March 19, 2019
A former student assistant instructor at Porta's Karate Dojo Academy in Pompton Lakes was found guilty on March 12 of aggravated sexual assault.
Luke V. Bakula, 31, of the Haskell section of Wanaque sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl at the karate academy and her Bloomingdale home between November 2005 and July 2006, said Camelia Valdes, the Passaic County prosecutor.
Luke Bakula, 31, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl at the karate academy he worked at and her home between November 2005 and June 2006.
Luke Bakula, 31, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl at the karate academy he worked at and her home between November 2005 and June 2006. (Photo: Courtesy of Passaic County Prosecutor's Office)
After a four-week trial, Bakula was convicted of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
He is scheduled to be sentenced June 7 before Judge Joseph Portelli, who also presided over the jury trial. Bakula could spend a maximum of 40 years in prison and would have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
https://nj1015.com/nj-karate-instructor-guilty-of-raping-9-year-old-girl/
NJ karate instructor guilty of raping 9-year-old girl
A former assistant instructor at a Passaic County karate dojo was convicted last week of raping a 9-year-old girl.
A Passaic County jury convicted Luke V. Bakula, 31, of two counts each of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and third-degree child endangerment.
Bakula, of Haskell, was arrested in 2015 after being accused of raping the girl, a student at Porta’s Karate Dojo Academy in Pompton Lakes, between Nov. 21, 2005, and July 2006. He would have been 18 or 19 at the time.
The assault happened at the dojo and at the girl's home in Bloomingdale, officials said.
He was let go as a student assistant instructor at the dojo in 2015 based on the allegations, prosecutors said.
Months before his arrest, he was hired as a paraprofessional in the Ringwood school district. His professional certification was suspended in 2017 by the State Board of Examiners, the body that licenses teachers, pending the outcome of the trial.
Bakula now faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced June 7 in Superior Court in Paterson.
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Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-359-5348 or email [email protected].
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Filed Under: Bloomingdale, Crime, Haskell, Newsletter, NJ Schools, Passaic County, Pompton Lakes
Categories: New Jersey News
NJ karate instructor guilty of raping 9-year-old girl
A former assistant instructor at a Passaic County karate dojo was convicted last week of raping a 9-year-old girl.
A Passaic County jury convicted Luke V. Bakula, 31, of two counts each of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and third-degree child endangerment.
Bakula, of Haskell, was arrested in 2015 after being accused of raping the girl, a student at Porta’s Karate Dojo Academy in Pompton Lakes, between Nov. 21, 2005, and July 2006. He would have been 18 or 19 at the time.
The assault happened at the dojo and at the girl's home in Bloomingdale, officials said.
He was let go as a student assistant instructor at the dojo in 2015 based on the allegations, prosecutors said.
Months before his arrest, he was hired as a paraprofessional in the Ringwood school district. His professional certification was suspended in 2017 by the State Board of Examiners, the body that licenses teachers, pending the outcome of the trial.
Bakula now faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced June 7 in Superior Court in Paterson.
Get news alerts on the NJ 101.5 app
Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-359-5348 or email [email protected].
Sign up for the NJ1015.com Newsletter
Get the best of NJ1015.com delivered to your inbox every day.
Filed Under: Bloomingdale, Crime, Haskell, Newsletter, NJ Schools, Passaic County, Pompton Lakes
Categories: New Jersey News
https://patch.com/new-jersey/wayne/ex-passaic-co-karate-teacher-guilty-sexually-assaulting-girl
Ex-Passaic Co. Karate Teacher Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Girl
Luke V. Bakula, 31, sexually assaulted a then-9-year-old student at her home more than 10 years ago, authorities said.
By Daniel Hubbard, Patch Staff | Mar 19, 2019 11:53 am ET
Luke V. Bakula, 31, sexually assaulted a girl at her Bloomingdale home and at Porta's Karate Dojo, authorities said.
Luke V. Bakula, 31, sexually assaulted a girl at her Bloomingdale home and at Porta's Karate Dojo, authorities said. (Passaic County Prosecutor's Office)
A Passaic County man faces up to 40 years in prison after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl who was a student at a karate school he worked at.
Luke V. Bakula, 31, of Haskell was found guilty of two counts each of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced Tuesday.
A Passaic County jury convicted Bakula March 19. Prosecutors argued during the trial that Bakula sexually assaulted the girl while a student assistant instructor at Porta's Karate Dojo Academy. The assaults occurred at the dojo and at her Bloomingdale home between November 21, 2005 and July 2006, Valdes said.
Bakula stopped being an instructor at the dojo in 2015 based on the sexual assault allegations.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 7. Bakula faces a maximum of sentence of 40 years in New Jersey State Prison. He must serve 85 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole.
Email: [email protected]
Ex-Passaic Co. Karate Teacher Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Girl
Luke V. Bakula, 31, sexually assaulted a then-9-year-old student at her home more than 10 years ago, authorities said.
By Daniel Hubbard, Patch Staff | Mar 19, 2019 11:53 am ET
Luke V. Bakula, 31, sexually assaulted a girl at her Bloomingdale home and at Porta's Karate Dojo, authorities said.
Luke V. Bakula, 31, sexually assaulted a girl at her Bloomingdale home and at Porta's Karate Dojo, authorities said. (Passaic County Prosecutor's Office)
A Passaic County man faces up to 40 years in prison after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl who was a student at a karate school he worked at.
Luke V. Bakula, 31, of Haskell was found guilty of two counts each of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced Tuesday.
A Passaic County jury convicted Bakula March 19. Prosecutors argued during the trial that Bakula sexually assaulted the girl while a student assistant instructor at Porta's Karate Dojo Academy. The assaults occurred at the dojo and at her Bloomingdale home between November 21, 2005 and July 2006, Valdes said.
Bakula stopped being an instructor at the dojo in 2015 based on the sexual assault allegations.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 7. Bakula faces a maximum of sentence of 40 years in New Jersey State Prison. He must serve 85 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole.
Email: [email protected]