Parents demand refunds from Hudson Valley Martial Arts studio following instructor’s child sex abuse arrest
The business has six locations, including studios in Rhinebeck, Arlington and Kingston.
A popular Hudson Valley martial arts studio is facing fallout tonight from some parents after the arrest of one of their instructors last week for allegedly sexually abusing children.
Concerned parents are removing their children from Leclerc’s Martial Arts Studio and say the business is now refusing to give refunds for their prepaid annual contracts.
“I no longer feel comfortable,” says parent Kirsten Quine. “They just keep saying there is no refunds. I just want my money back. It is about $7,000.”
As News 12 previously reported, state police arrested the owner’s son, 28-year-old Tyler Leclerc, of Hyde Park, last Wednesday. He’s charged with criminal sex act involving a victim under the age of 17 and two counts child endangerment. Authorities say an investigation found the instructor sexually abused multiple children over several years.
State police didn’t say if the incidents involved children attending the martial arts school.
“It’s repulsive. This is the worst thing anybody can do to another person,” says Armando Montero, who has also removed his child amid the allegations.
News 12 confirmed with the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office that the studio owner, Robert Leclerc, pleaded guilty to rape in the late 1990’s – right around the same time that online records show he opened the martial arts business in Dutchess and Ulster counties.
News 12 went to the Hyde Park location on Albany Post Road on Monday, but the door was locked, and no one inside would answer. Boxes of gym equipment were seen by the front door. People inside the empty studio were seen through the clear glass door and large windows turning off the lights.
“We paid about $2,000. They’re not getting back to us. We’ve been calling. They don’t reply,” Montero says.
No one at the business has returned News 12’s calls or emails and as of Monday, their webpage is down.
Parents say the martial arts studio is an after-school program for kids in the Hyde Park Central School District and picks up kids in vans after classes. News 12 reached out to the school district for information and received the following response from Superintendent Dr. Pedro Roman:
"We have been made aware of an incident involving the recent arrest of an instructor at Leclerc Martial Arts. We are shocked by the news and thank our local law enforcement for their work. If there was information previously distributed regarding this program to district students, it was distributed through the Hyde Park Central School District as a community service to students and families for informational purposes only. The Leclerc Martial Arts program is not affiliated with nor endorsed in any way by the Hyde Park Central School District. Families have previously signed up their students to participate in the program at Leclerc’s place of business, with some opting to have Leclerc vehicles transport students from school to the center. Their instructors do not enter our facilities when picking up students, and students have never been transported to the program in vehicles owned by the district."
The business has six locations, including studios in Rhinebeck, Arlington and Kingston.
Tyler Leclerc is being held in Dutchess County Jail on $200,000 cash bail.
