Springfield-Based Martial Arts Instructor Charged With Sexual Assault Of Underage Student

The partial owner of Springfield A.T.A. Martial Arts Academy has been arrested for the repeated sexual assault of a 13-year-old enrolled at the school.

George Mendoza-Valentino, 27, of Saddle Brook is accused of sexually assaulting the student multiple times at the academy over the past month, according to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

He also sent the victim sexually explicit images and videos and asked her to do the same.

Mendoza-Valentino was arrested at the martial arts academy shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday without incident and is charged with second-degree sexual assault, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

He was ordered to surrender his passport and refrain from contacting the alleged victim in any way.

“This investigation was a collaborative effort between our department and the Prosecutor’s Office, and we greatly appreciate their assistance in apprehending a person who had been entrusted with caring for juveniles in his role as a martial arts instructor,” Springfield Police Chief John Cook said. “We are urging anyone else who may have been a victim to come forward.”

Anyone with information about this matter or any related incidents is being urged to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Stephen Carro at 908-965-3890 or Springfield Police Detective Danielle Kahora at 973-912-2246.