Patchogue: Karate Teacher Accused of Molestation

A Suffolk County man was held yesterday on charges of molesting eight children who attended karate classes at a studio where he worked as a volunteer instructor, the police said. The instructor, Richard Carfora, 19, of Mastic, was charged with abusing the children, ages 6 to 10, over the last four months at the Zen Nippon Kempo Karate Studio in Patchogue, according to the Suffolk County police. They said Mr. Carfora, who was a also martial arts student, directed the children to a dressing room under the guise of adjusting their karate uniforms, and then sexually assaulted them. He was arrested on May 11, and remained in custody yesterday at the Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead, the police said. --Thomas J. Lueck (NYT)