Karate instructor charged with sex abuse
James N. Bonfiglio, 37, owner of the Excel Karate Academy in Ronkonkoma was arrested Thursday and charged with sexually abusing a 13-year-old male student, the Suffolk police said. (October 11, 2007)
BY ANDREW STRICKLER
9:42 PM EDT, October 12, 2007
In his statement to Suffolk police, the 13-year-old describes himself as one of karate instructor James Bonfiglio’s “cool group,” the ones allowed to hang out in the office of Excel Karate Academy and teach younger students.
“I felt it was an honor to help,” his statement reads. “Sensei Jim kind of put me in a group of kids who were his favorites.”
But police and the boy allege that Bonfiglio violated the boy’s trust when the karate instructor sent his longtime student lewd computer messages and twice lured the boy to his home for sex.
Police arrested Bonfiglio at his Ronkonkoma apartment on Thursday, charging him with committing a criminal sexual act, a felony, as well as misdemeanor sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
He pleaded not guilty in First District Court in Central Islip Friday and was held on $30,000 cash bail or $60,000 bond.
Jerry Garguilo of St. James, Bonfiglio’s attorney, said Bonfiglio, 37, has no previous criminal record and was a frequent volunteer with organizations that work with children, including the Suffolk County Division of Handicapped Services, where he taught karate to disabled kids. “The guy comes to court with a very clean slate,” Garguilo said.
In addition to classes at his Excel academy in Ronkonkoma, Bonfiglio taught karate last year in an after-school program run by the Suffolk County Police Athletic League at a Connetquot district school. He passed a criminal history and sexual registry check before he was allowed to teach in the program, according to Dep. Insp. Robert Oswald.
At Bonfiglio’s apartment complex Friday, neighbors worried aloud about a possible threat in a community where kids roam freely among bike paths and dozens of buildings.
“I’m pretty shocked, pretty upset,” said neighbor Shari Matta, 44, whose 8-year-old son is learning karate. “Thank God my son doesn’t take classes at that school.”
Oswald urged the parents of Bonfiglio’s students to talk with their kids. “It’s really up to parents … to see that everything is all right,” he said.
Police have no evidence linking Bonfiglio to other crimes, Oswald said, while noting that Bonfiglio “has been around a lot of kids for a long time.”
Oswald said Bonfiglio was arrested after the boy, who had taken lessons with Bonfiglio since he was 7, “became more uncomfortable” with the relationship and told his mother last week. The mother contacted police.
All the charges stem from a single night in July when the boy visited Bonfiglio’s apartment, according to the criminal complaint. The alleged victim’s statement also describes an instant message with sexual content that Bonfiglio allegedly sent the boy, and a separate encounter in July at Bonfiglio’s house involving a pornographic DVD.
Police said they were examining Bonfiglio’s computer to try to determine if he had inappropriate contact with any other children.
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