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Female Karate Instructor Accused Of Sex With Student

Posted: 4:04 pm EST December 3, 2008Updated: 5:24 pm EST December 3, 2008

An Orange County woman was supposed to be teaching karate to kids, but investigators say she got too close to one young student and started a sexual relationship with him.

The 26-year-old suspect lives with her parents in east Orange County. She allegedly drove all the way to Apopka to meet up with the 15-year-old boy she's accused of developing an inappropriate relationship with.


ARCHIVE: Stories On Student-Instructor Relationships

A relationship, police said, developed over sparring at Sidekicks Martial Arts Studio in Apopka (see map). Michelle Fresno, an instructor, apparently took a liking to the 15-year-old student. It's a relationship she later confessed she knew was inappropriate.

"You realize, 'If we get caught, I'll be arrested.' His response, 'We won't get caught,'" said Sgt. Carol McMaster, Apopka Police Department.

But they did get caught, by the boy's mother, as the two were apparently kissing.

"This whole incident has caused severe unrest in his family. The mother is very upset," Sgt. McMaster said.

She's so upset, reports state, she went after him with a machete. It was a school resource officer who the boy finally confided the two-month long relationship.

"She would sneak in his bedroom window after mom left for work. Spent the entire day with him in his house," Sgt. McMaster said.

Fresno was fitted for her ankle monitoring bracelet Wednesday after bonding out. She ducked out the back door of the facility and refused to answer questions at her parents' house.

"They're in love with one another," Sgt. McMaster said.

Fresno now faces felony charges and possible time in prison.

"Makes great grades, honor roll, respectful," Sgt. McMaster described the teen. "Wants to be in the medical profession."

Fresno was immediately fired from the karate studio. As part of her release from jail, she'll have to wear the GPS ankle bracelet, she's not allowed contact with the victim, she can't go near his house or be unsupervised around any juvenile and she can't log on to Facebook.

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