ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — An Orlando karate instructor is in jail Monday accused of having sex with a student. Matthew Murgia, 25, was arrested for stalking and sexually assaulting his former karate student, investigators said.
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Murgia taught at the Black Belt Center on Hoffner Avenue in Orlando (see map) . Investigators said he started stalking the girl in April and was arrested on the sexual assault charges last week. Murgia was fired after the stalking arrest.
WFTV learned that their relationship had been going on for years.
The girl was 14 years old when the alleged sexual assaults began and is now 18. Some parents, whose children still attend the center, are upset they were never told about the incident.
"He took this girl's trust, our trust and he just trashed it," said an official from the Black Belt Center.
The center's owner told WFTV she can't talk about the case, because they are helping the sheriff's office with the investigation. The owners have been trying to get Murgia to confess to the crime.
"At that time he was immediately removed from the facility," she said.
WFTV found out Murgia was a former student before working at the Black Belt Center. He is being held without bond.