LAWFUEL – MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, and MARK J. MERSHON, the Assistant
Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office, announced
that TRENT YOUNG, 39, a New York City police officer, has been
arrested in connection with his transportation of two minors from
New York to New Jersey for purposes of illegal sexual activity.
According to a Complaint filed today in White Plains
federal court, TRENT YOUNG transported two minors on separate
occasions from Middletown, New York to his martial arts studio in
West Milford, New Jersey, and engaged in sexual intercourse with
the minors there. According to the Complaint, these victims, who
are now 15 years old and 17 years old respectively and were 14
and 15 respectively when the abuse began, were both martial arts
students of YOUNG’s.
As set forth in the Complaint:
In 2005 when Victim 1 received a “green belt,” YOUNG
required Victim 1 to sign a document stating that Victim 1 would
be obedient. That day, YOUNG stated that he was going to test
Victim 1’s obedience and told Victim 1 to take off Victim 1’s
clothes. While undressed, YOUNG touched Victim 1’s breasts.
From in or about August 2006 through in or about October 2007, as
set forth in the Complaint, YOUNG engaged in other sexual
activities with Victim 1, including sexual intercourse. The
sexual intercourse occurred in Middletown, New York and in West
Milford, New Jersey at YOUNG’s martial arts studio called “Iron
Tiger.”
In the Spring of 2007, YOUNG requested that another
martial arts student (“Victim 2″) remove her clothes. Victim 2
refused.
As reflected in the Complaint, after YOUNG’s arrest on
December 27, 2007, by the Middletown Police Department, a third
victim (“Victim 3″) reported sexual abuse by YOUNG in 2005 and
2006. Victim 3 began taking martial arts lessons from YOUNG in
Middletown, New York in or about March 2005. Several months
later, YOUNG began to engage in sexual activities with Victim 3,
including sexual intercourse. As set forth in the Complaint, on
an occasion in the Summer of 2006, YOUNG drove Victim 3 from
Middletown, New York to YOUNG’s martial arts studio in West
Milford, New Jersey and engaged in sexual intercourse with Victim
YOUNG was presented in White Plains federal court
before U.S. Magistrate Judge GEORGE A. YANTHIS this afternoon.
He was detained without bail.
Mr. GARCIA said that the investigation is ongoing. Mr.
GARCIA requested that any individuals with relevant information
contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Goshen, New York
at (845) 615-1700.
Mr. GARCIA praised the efforts and assistance of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Middletown Police
Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the
Rockland County Sheriff’s Department, the West Milford, New
Jersey Police Department, and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s
Office.
The federal charges brought today each carry a
mandatory minimum sentence, upon conviction, of 10 years in
prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Assistant United States Attorney MARCIA S. COHEN is in
charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint against the
defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty.
08-06 ###
