SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR MOLESTING 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHILE ALONE IN STUDIO

SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR MOLESTING 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHILE ALONE IN STUDIO

NEWPORT BEACH – An instructor and co-owner of a Costa Mesa self-defense studio was convicted today of molesting a 4-year-old girl while she was a student at his studio. Jon Patrick Harison, 62, Anaheim, pleaded guilty to the court to one felony count of lewd acts on a child with a sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct on a child. He was sentenced to three years in state prison and ordered to register as a sex offender. Harison also has a pending child pornography federal case with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On Jan. 19, 2009, Harison sexually assaulted 4-year-old Jane Doe in a secluded area of his studio while he was alone with the victim, who was supposed to be receiving self-defense instruction. The defendant laid down next to the victim and fondled her by touching her groin region over her clothing. Jane Doe told her mother about the molest approximately one week later. Jane Doe’s mother contacted the police.

At the time of the child molest, Harison was a co-owner and instructor at United Studios of Self Defense at 2675 Irvine Ave., Suite G, in Costa Mesa.

During the sentencing today, Jane Doe’s father presented a victim impact statement in which he explained that Harison is a threat to other innocent children and deserves to go to prison. He explained, “My wife and I thought we were improving our children, giving them self confidence and giving them a skill to protect themselves from harm. How wrong we were. Little did we know that we were delivering our daughter to a child molester.”

Deputy District Attorney Tony Ferrentino of the Sexual Assault Unit prosecuted this case.

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