Inwood Karate Teacher Gets Decade In Prison For Sex Abuse: Report

INWOOD, NY — A martial arts teacher who sexually abused his young female students in a karate studio in the basement of an Inwood building will serve a decade behind bars, according to reports.

Hector Bencosme, 58, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison Monday as part of a plea deal made with prosecutors in October, the New York Daily News first reported. A future hearing will determine how Bencosme will register on the New York State Sex Offender Registry.

Supreme Court Justice Melissa Jackson said during Monday's sentencing that she would recommended Bencosme be classified at the highest level on the registry because he has "shown no remorse," the Daily News reported.

Bencosme pleaded guilty to five counts of use of child in a sexual performance as a sexually motivated felony, one count of second-degree sexual abuse and three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, prosecutors announced in October.

Bencosme taught martial arts lessons at apartment buildings on Post Avenue and Vermilyea Avenue while going by the name Kiko Valoy, prosecutors said. Between March 15 and May 25, Bencosme allegedly sexually abused four female students at the Post Avenue building and was arrested on May 26 when two students called the police, prosecutors said. The martial arts teacher also admitted to keeping more than 100 pornographic photos of his victims, the Daily News reported.

The martial arts teacher was convicted on sex abuse charges in January of 2001 for sexually abusing martial arts students in the same Post Avenue building, prosecutors said. Bencosme fled the country before he could be sentenced.