Croton Martial Arts Teacher Arraigned on Sex Assault Charges

Croton martial arts instructor Frank DeMaria was arraigned today on a nine-count sex assault indictment, according to Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

DeMaria is an internationally known grand master instructor who owned and operated a martial arts school in Croton, where students were victims in incidents that took place between Nov. 1, 2009 and Jan. 6, 2011, DiFiore said.

DeMaria, 67, of 83 Van Cortlandt Ave., Ossining, was arraigned today on charges related to sexual touching involving four female children:

• Three counts of second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, class “D” violent felonies,
• Two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, class “D” violent felonies,
• Four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, class “A” misdemeanors.

DiFiore said that adults who were observing at the martial arts school reported to Croton police that they saw the DeMaria take young female students into a corner of his studio and observed the DeMaria’s hips make a gyrating motion. Female victims told investigators that DeMaria instructed them, on more than one occasion, to grab his penis and to squeeze and pull repeatedly.

DeMaria was arrested by Croton police on Jan. 14. Subsequently, three additional victims came forward, DiFiore said.

DeMaria is being held on $50,000 bail pending a Sept. 6 Westchester County Court hearing. He faces a maximum of seven years in state prison on each of the top counts of the indictment. Assistant District Attorney Christine Cervasio and Assistant District Attorney Courtney Johnson of the Special Prosecutions Division are prosecuting the case.