Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Joao Da Silva of Davie, Florida was arrested on August 21 for allegedly inappropriately fondling three female students.
Da Silva, 34, is charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation involving a minor under 16 and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation involving a victim aged 16 or 17. He is being held in lieu of $225,000 bond. The press did not name an attorney for him.
According to the arrest report, three victims, aged 17, 15, and 13, have come forward with allegations about Da Silva, who is the owner of Raiva Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at 8232 W. State Road 84 in Davie.
One of the victims told police that Da Silva touched her breasts every week for the past three years she has taken lessons at his school. The victim, who is now 13, said the incidents started when she was under 12. She said she was certain the incidents weren’t accidents because they happened after class.
Another victim, who is now 15 years old and has also taken classes at the center for the past three years, told investigators that Da Silva touched her breasts for around two weeks before she reported the incidents to the police.
The 17-year-old victim told police that Da Silva touched her inappropriately on several occasions during training sessions. She also said he touched her inappropriately during a summer camp his center organized at Hollywood Beach this year. She said was in the ocean with Da Silva, talking to him about a guy she was dating and Da Silva allegedly told her he had to teach her what to do, according to the complaint affidavit.
He moved her swimsuit so her genitals were exposed and told her to wrap her legs around him, investigators said. Da Silva then allegedly placed his penis on the victim’s genitals, but did not penetrate her. The victim said she panicked and got out of the water. She didn’t immediately tell anyone about the incident, the report said.
“We don’t know if there are any other victims at this time, if there are we’re asking them to please contact the police department so that they can get the information to us and we can help them as well,” police spokesperson Vivian Gallinal told the press.
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Source: 8.22.18 martial arts instructor accused of fondling teens jailed without bond.pdf