Aug 4, 2008 5:31 pm US/Pacific
Ex-Karate Teacher Charged With Molesting Boys
WESTMINSTER
-
-
Patrick Shawn Magnan, 51, was arrested Saturday and is being held on $1 million bail on charges he allegedly molested nearly a dozen former karate students.
CBS
Orange County officials have charged a former karate instructor with 11 felony counts of alleged molestation and committing lewd acts on nearly a dozen young male students in his Westminster studio over a six year period.
Patrick Shawn Magnan, 51, was arrested Saturday and is being held on $1 million bail, said Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Magnan appeared Monday afternoon in a Westminster courtroom, but arraignment was postponed until Aug. 26, a court clerk said.
The charges -- which could bring a prison sentence of up to 90 years to life in prison -- include sentencing enhancements for alleged lewd acts on multiple children and substantial sexual conduct with a child.
The molestations allegedly occurred at the studio Magnan owned at 16521 Magnolia Ave., which he closed in late 2005 or early 2006.
Magnan's alleged victims, who were between the ages of 10 and 14, said they tried to avoid his office, where most of the alleged acts occurred, for fear he would molest them, Emami said.
They also told authorities that during practice, he would talk about how strong he was and his ability to break a person's neck, she said.
In July, an alleged victim told a counselor that he had been molested by Magnan in 2005, prior to the studio's closure. Westminster police
subsequently located five additional alleged victims, Emami said.
Magnan is also accused of molesting some of the boys in the karate ring,
Emami said.
Lewd acts allegedly included masturbation, groping and kissing.
Magnan's current occupation and potential access to children since the studio's 2005 were unknown, Emami said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with additional information about the alleged molestations, or who may have been victimized, was asked to call supervising District Attorney Investigator Tim Craig at (714) 347-8558.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
