Karate Teacher Had ‘Sexual Contact’ with Young Girl: Deputies

TAMPA, FL — A 33-year-old karate instructor faces criminal charges after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies say he had inappropriate sexual contact with a female student when she was 12.

The arrest of Nelson Ivan Del Valle-Nazario was announced late Thursday afternoon. The sheriff’s office said Del Valle-Nazario had contact with the girl between March 1, 2015, and Sept. 4, 2016. The girl was 12 when the first incident occurred, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

Del Valle-Nazario served as the girl’s mixed martial arts coach, according to the agency. “The victim was in his custody at the gym at the time of several of the offenses,” the email said.

Deputies say Del Valle-Nazario admitted to the offenses during a recorded phone conversation. He is the owner of Undisputed Fitness & Martial Arts, 1412 W. Waters Ave., in Tampa.

Del Valle-Nazarios was arrested Thursday afternoon at his gym. He faces two counts of lewd or lascivious battery and a charge for driving on a suspended license.

The sheriff’s office has not identified other victims at this time, but asks anyone with information related to the case or other victims to call 813-247-8200.

Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office