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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- An internationally known Kung Fu instructor who operated a martial arts studio in Croton has been sentenced to seven years in state prison for sexually abusing four underage female students, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced Tuesday.
A jury convicted Frank DeMaria, 68, from Ossining, on three counts of second degree sexual conduct against a child, a class "D" violent felony, two counts of first degree sexual abuse, a class "D" felony, and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a class "A" misdemeanor.
DeMaria owned and ran a martial arts school in Croton-on-Hudson, where the incidents took place between Nov. 1, 2009 and Jan. 6, 2011, the district attorney's office said. An investigation began Jan. 14 after adults students at the school told Croton police that they saw DeMaria take a young student into a corner of his studio and make a gyrating motion with his hips.
Later, three more victims came forward. All four testified that DeMaria told them to grab his penis and to squeeze it on more than one occasion.
DeMaria is required to register as a sex offender when he is released. He was also sentenced by the court to a five-year post-release supervision.
Assistant District Attorney Christine Carvasio and Assistant District Attorney Courtney Johnson of the Special Prosecutions Division prosecuted the case.
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