Allentown karate teacher charged with sexually assaulting underage student in Bethlehem

Lynn Olanoff

An Allentown karate teacher has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an underage student in Bethlehem.

Christopher Calcagni, 51, of the 200 block of East Susquehanna Street, had threatened to stop teaching the student karate unless she had sex with him, according to court records.

The girl was 15 years old at the time of the alleged assaults, which took place over a two-month period in 2012, records say. Calcagni was arraigned on the charges Wednesday before District Judge Nancy Matos Gonzalez.

Calcagni initially taught the girl karate at her home, records say. When the girl turned 15, Calcagni starting complimenting her on her looks, telling her he loved her and asking her to have a sexual relationship with him, records say.

When the girl refused, Calcagni threatened to stop teaching her karate and said she wouldn’t be part of the karate school he was working to set up, records say.

After the girl agreed to have sex with him, he would pick her up under the guise that they were going to his karate school, records say. He took her to an apartment in the 300 block of Broadway to have sex over a two-month period, records say.

Calcagni is now the owner of Saucon Valley Martial Arts in Salisbury Township, The Morning Call reports.

Bethlehem police interviewed the victim between July and October 2013, records say. Calcagni was arrested Sept. 25.

He was sent to Northampton County Prison on Wednesday in lieu of 10 percent of $100,000 bail. He faces charges of statutory sexual assault of someone under 16, indecent assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

Calcagni in 1988 was charged with numerous rape charges for allegedly assaulting several teens when he worked as a house parent at a Wilson Borough residential treatment facility, The Morning Call reports.

Source: lehighvalleylive