Fulton Martial Arts Instructor Is Sex Offender: Police

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Acting on a tip, the Howard County Police Department has found that a martial arts instructor in Fulton is a sex offender. The man had been convicted of sexual battery of a child out of state in 2003, after which officials said he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. However, he moved to Maryland 15 years ago and never registered, police said.

Scott Brian Naugle, 44, of the 8700 block of Boulder Ridge Road in Laurel, has been charged with two counts related to failure to register as a sex offender.

Naugle, who owns Leverage Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Fulton, was arrested at work Thursday and has since been released from the Howard County Detention Center on $25,000 bond, according to officials.

He has been ordered to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 and must register with the Maryland sex offender registry within three days of his release.

"Naugle has trained off-duty police officers and military personnel. However, most of the students at LeverageJJ are young professionals and their family members who want to learn self-defense or just want a fun way to stay in shape," according to the bio of Scott Naugle on Leverage Jiu Jitsu.

As of Jan. 26, police said nobody has reported sexual misconduct in Howard County related to Naugle.

Anyone who may have been victimized or who knows of victimization by Naugle is asked to come forward by calling 410-313-STOP or emailing HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.

Photo of Scott Naugle courtesy of the Howard County Police Department.