As reported by the Washington Post, the Kingstowne Patch and others, a 38 year-old Tae Kwon Doe instructor has been arrested for luring minor girls into sexual relationships by promising that the activity would improve their skills enough to qualify them for the Olympics.
As alleged by Fairfax police, Q.V.P.L., the founder of Phan University of Martial Arts, trained two girls, aged 15 and 16 at the time of the abuse, while engaging them in sexual activities – and one of the two excelled to the highest levels in the sport.
The school serves the Burke and Springfield area of Northern Virginia.
Franconia resident, Q.V.P.L., was arraigned on May 22. According to Fairfax County police, Q.V.P.L. was charged with seven felonies for taking indecent liberties with minors and possessing child pornography.
The two girls are referred to as Victim #1 and Victim #2 in the search warrant affidavit. A detective with the Fairfax County Major Crimes Division said, "Mr. (Q.V.P.L.) was ultimately able to convince Victim #1 that a sexual relationship would benefit her and assist her in achieving her goals as a martial artist."
A tip to police led investigators to the discovery of a second victim last year.
The first victim, according to police, was allegedly abused from May of 2003 to January of 2005. The second victim claimed that her sexual abuse occurred in the latter part of 2008.
Police have yet to uncover any other victims in the case as the investigation is continuing.
According to the search warrant, between the age of 10 or 11 years old, the first victim began taking martial arts instruction with Q.V.P.L. When she reached the age of 15, and was training nearly every day at the school, Q.V.P.L. told her that he had grown an attraction to her as he had watched her grow up.
By allegedly convincing the student that a sexual relationship with him would advance their martial arts goals, Q.V.P.L. and the girl started to have sexual relations – beginning from the time she was 16 and continuing into her adult years.
In 2007 Q.V.P.L. allegedly used the same ruse on a second underage victim.
The Tae Kwon Do sport, taught in the traditional value system by Q.V.P.L., holds that students should be obedient to their master.
Along with sex, the two girls were also instructed to deliver food to Q.V.P.L. and to do work around the school for him.
"Professor (Q.V.P.L.)", as he referred to himself in romantic notes he wrote to the girls, also exchanged photos and videos with them.
The school's website states that Q.V.P.L. grew up in Vietnam, came to the U.S. during the Vietnam war, and has been instructing students at the school for over 15 years. In 2010 the U.S. Olympic Committee named him coach of the year in Tae Kwon Do.
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