Local Karate Instructor Charged with Sexually Assaulting Three Teens

Evan Burgess, age 26 of Blue Bell, has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting three teenagers he met through his job as an instructor at DeStolfo’s Premier Martial Arts in Conshohocken (Plymouth Township). The acts he is charged with occurred at his home or at out of state karate tournaments.

The affidavit states that there are three victims, all in their early teens. Two allege that they woke up to Burgess engaging in a sex act with then. One claims Burgess touched him inappropriately while sitting together on a couch. Burgess denies the charges, but admits to sharing beds and being friendly with the teens. The affidavit details how he communicated with them through social media and texting. The acts involved in the allegations took place between 2014 and 2016. He is charged with a federal crime due to the crimes happening across state lines.

According to a statement released by DeStolfo’s Premier Martial Arts they notified the authorities when they learned of the allegations in May. From the statement:

The former employee was put on leave back in May do(sic) to unresolvable conflict and allegations of inappropriate behavior and that was the extent of our knowledge. The authorities were then made known by us.
He was formally let go at the end of the summer, and decided to take employment elsewhere.
Burgess was arrested on November 24th and was released on $75,000 bail. During his arrest and questioning, the Whitpain Police Department took possession of his cell phone. Burgess’ only comment on Facebook since his arrest involves his phone:
Not going to have my phone on for a while. If you want to reach me just send a facebook message.

Burgess was most recently working in Massachusetts at another karate studio. He was arrested while home for Thanksgiving.

MoreThanTheCurve.com has an interview scheduled with the owners of DeStolfo’s tomorrow. More to come.

Acknowledgement – DeStolfos’s Premier Martial Arts is an advertiser with MoreThanTheCurve.com. The owner’s child has also taken classes there and Burgess was the instructor a few times.