PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - A karate instructor was arrested, Tuesday, for kissing a 12-year-old student, police said.
According to police, 22-year-old Jonathan Vega was a karate instructor at Permier Martial Arts, located at 17503 Pines Blvd.
The owner of the martial arts academy said he was fired immediately after his arrest.
“It’s unacceptable behavior,” said Permier Martial Arts owner Jeff Asesor. “We have to look out for the safety of our children, and he’s terminated. You know, these are not the life skills and the values that we teach as a martial artist.”
Asesor said keeping children safe is the martial arts academy’s top priority, and the crimes Vega is accused of go against everything they teach. “As a growing child, you know, we need to instill these values in our kids, and you know, the kids that we have here, that’s what we’re doing.”
Police said Vega used Snapchat to tell one of his 12-year-old students that he liked her and wanted to kiss her. On Jan. 3, both the instructor and student kissed.
Vega allegedly asked the 12-year-old girl later that day how she felt about it and to keep it a secret, police said.
The girl later told a friend that the same day and police eventually became aware of the incident.
Vega denied the allegations when asked by police and put the blame on the student, saying she kissed him.
Police said Vega told officials that he told her to change his contact name on her phone and not tell anyone about the kiss.
Vega later admitted to police that what he did was illegal and that he was aware of the student’s age, officials added.
Police said that Vega also told them he has always been attracted to children and doesn’t trust himself around them.
Vega was arrested, Tuesday, and charged with one count of lewd and lascivious behavior, which is a second-degree felony.
Vega’s mother told the judge in court, Wednesday, that her son is a good man who just graduated college with an engineering degree. “He has a good record,” she said. “He is a good student, person, citizen.”
Vega is being held on $50,000 bond.
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