LV Karate Instructor Charged

Reviews, Videos, and Everything Else Martial Arts in the News
1

http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/10698100/detail.html

A local Karate instructor has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a minor under age 14, Las Vegas police said.
The suspect, Wayne Lacno, operated his own Karate academy near Spring Mountain Road and Jones Boulevard and hosts classes for both adult and children, police said. Authorities began investigating Lacno after one of his students accused him of ongoing abuse, police said.

Further information about Lacno’s accuser was unavailable, but investigators are unaware of other alleged victims. Lacno has been charged with seven counts of lewdness with a minor under 14 and two counts of sexual assault.

Authorities are encouraging parents of children who attended classes instructed by Lacno to report any suspicions of sex abuse to police at 702-828-3421.

no other info but I was struck that the police have to tell a parent to report sexual abuse? :confused:

2

Wayne Lacno was released from jail and acquitted on all charges friday Nov 10 ,2007 in Las Vegas NV. Although he feels his life has been ruined by these serious and false accusations, he is unsure whether he will reopen his school at this time. Wayne was innocent and has always been a positive influence on the kids. I hope that he can rebuild his life after such a horrific experience .Thank s to all who supported and stood behind Head Instructor Wayne for all these months.You all know who you are. Unfortunately ,I can’t report that Universal Kempo Karate Association was one! A huge disappointment to former students who believed and were taught it was a brotherhood!

3

Build Your Own Newscast
Former Karate Teacher Tries to Get Life Back After Acquittal
Wayne Lacno was found not guilty.
Wayne Lacno was found not guilty.
“They didn’t even have not guilty on this paper.”
“They didn’t even have not guilty on this paper.”

A former karate instructor accused of sexually assaulting a minor has been found not guilty. Wayne Lacno has been out of jail for less than a week, found not guilty of all of the charges he was facing.

While he is excited for his new found freedom, it’s going to be a tough road to get back to where he was at before the charges were brought up against him.

“They didn’t even have not guilty on this paper. They had to draw a box and write in the words not guilty on the paper.”

It’s more than just a piece of paper. It was Wayne Lacno’s ticket to freedom. Friday, the one time karate instructor was found not guilty of several charges, including sexual assault of a minor.

“It’s like shock and awe – from the beginning it was shock. And now it’s awe, really bad,” he said.

He moved to Las Vegas from Hawaii 10 years ago to open up a karate school in a shopping center. The same place where he was accused of harming a child.

“I’ve trained children for 30 years. Parents always said the only one to protect our children is Wayne. I love kids, that’s what I was here for. If I could turn over a leaf for one child, I’m happy.”

Even though found not guilty, he says his life is ruined.

“My job told me that don’t want me back. I didn’t even want to show my face at my job because it’s embarrassing. It’ll still be in their minds, child molester, child molester.”

Today he is in the process of starting his life over, after being freed from jail for the first time in more than 10 months.

“When you come to this point, you don’t know how to feel. I don’t believe it yet. I don’t believe that I’m outside.”

The company he was working for before his arrest will not hire him back. He lost his karate school, and now just looking to make a living. The only way he can get this account off his record is if the governor exonerates him, even though he was found not guilty.

Email your comments to Reporter Chris Saldana.

4

Good on him, I hate fraudulent charges.


Bizarre.
Please post link source next time please.

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7350293

5

That’s the nightmare scenario for anyone who runs a school.

6

Its as if you have to have cameras rolling at all times in your schools to be safe…I just read about another instructor in Fla. being accused of this as well.

7

Poor guy.

I just hope he gets his life back on track after this.