City Officer Charged With Raping Student

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

A New York City police officer was arrested today on charges that he serially raped a 14-year-old girl who attended his karate school, police said.

Trent Young, 39, was arrested outside his home in Middletown, N.Y. yesterday after a joint investigation by local police and the city’s internal affairs bureau led police to believe he raped the student at his karate school between 20 and 40 times, Lieutenant Patrick Freeman of the Middletown Police Department said today.

Police are searching for other possible victims of the nine-year city officer, Lieutenant Freeman said.

A call left at Mr. Young’s place of business was not immediately returned, and a woman who answered the phone at a listed home number for Mr. Young declined to speak. Police did not identify who is representing Mr. Young in court.

A second student, also a 14-year girl, told investigators that Mr. Young attempted to undress her last spring but she refused, Lieutenant Freeman said.

Mr. Young, the owner and lead instructor at Iron Tiger Martial Arts in West Milford, N.J., used his position of power to prey on the girls, Lieutenant Freeman said. When students earned a green belt, they were required to sign a martial arts oath, which Mr. Young twisted to compel at least two students into sexual acts, Lieutenant Freeman said.

The alleged rape victim began taking classes at Iron Tiger in 2004, earning her green belt in December 2005. She told investigators that Mr. Young raped her repeatedly between early 2006 and October 2007, Lieutenant Freeman said.

Police say Mr. Young assaulted girls both at his school and at a private dojo in the basement of his home, where he lives with his wife. One victim told investigators that Mr. Young photographed some of the alleged acts, Lieutenant Freeman said.

Mr. Young was arraigned on first- and third-degree rape charges, Lieutenant Freeman said. Officials believe more charges will follow, he said.

Mr. Young is free on a $50,000 bond, Lieutenant Freeman said.

Mr. Young, a fifth-degree black belt in six different martial arts, is a graduate of Brunel University in London, England, where he earned a masters in criminology, according to the website for his school. He worked as a teacher in the city’s public schools before becoming a police officer.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use