Teacher Smackdown

In Long Island, karate instructor James Bonfiglio, 37, was arrested for sexually abusing a 13-year-old male student. He is being charged with criminal sexual act, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Bonfiglio is the owner of Excel Karate Academy in Ronkonkoma, New York, and has access to hundreds of kids. The sexual abuse took place in Bonfiglio’s apartment, in an apartment complex where many children live. Bonfiglio frequently volunteered with children’s organizations including the Suffolk County Division of Handicapped Services and at an after-school program run by the Suffolk County Police Athletic League in the Connetquot district school.

He passed a criminal history and sexual registry check before he was allowed to teach in the program. He has no previous criminal record according to his lawyer.

The 13-year-old victim describes himself as one Bonfiglio’s “cool group,” the ones allowed to hang out in the office of karate school and teach younger students. (My children’s karate instructor calls them apprentices.) The boy said that Bonfiglio started sending him lewd computer messages and twice lured him to his home for sex. When the instant messages started getting more explicit, the boy went to his mom. She then reported Bonfiglio’s action to the police.

Police are examining Bonfiglio’s computer to see if he had contact with any more kids. He has has pleaded not guilty is being held on $30,000 cash bail or $60,000 bond.

Police urge the parents of Bonfiglio’s students to talk with their kids to make sure that he didn’t act inappropriately with them. While police have no evidence linking Bonfiglio to other crimes, he’s around kids all day and could have had more than one victim. Police ask anyone with additional information to contact the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6273.

Check out the video of the ABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News account.

Excel Karate Academy, James N. Bonfiglio, sexual abuse of children