Karate Teacher Pleads Guilty in Molestation Case, Faces 48-Year Term

A La Mesa man accused of carrying on a sexual relationship with one of his teenage karate students pleaded guilty Wednesday to 29 felony charges, including committing lewd acts on a child.

Eric Dylan Protas, who had been free on $800,000, was ordered into custody without bail by El Cajon Judge Peter Deddeh.

Protas, 38, faces a maximum of 48 years in state prison when sentenced on April 28.

During Wednesday's hearing, Deddeh ordered the unsealing of a recorded call
between Protas and the victim that was set up by police.

The victim—now 14—testified last October that he had oral and anal sex about 300 times between August 2009 and May 2010 with Protas, the owner/operator of the Allied Gardens School of Martial Arts on Waring Road in San Diego.

The boy testified that Protas became his instructor in an after-school martial arts program when he was in kindergarten, and he began taking classes at the studio when he was older.

At one point, when he was having trouble at home and school, he confided in Protas, who made him feel better, the boy said. He said that launched a relationship in which they got together nearly every day.

The two began having sex at Protas’ house and, if he refused, the defendant would “shut down” emotionally and cry, according to the boy.

Police were called when the teen told his mother what was happening, after he was arrested for shoplifting.

A now-missing Facebook page last summer titled Head Instructor Eric Protas is innocent contained hundreds of postings by friends, students and relatives showing support for Protas.

Keith Montague wrote: “I’ve known Eric for over 30 years and of all the people I’ve known in my life what he is being accused of is totally insane. There is no way a person of his caliber could do such a thing. Good luck, Eric, my thoughts are with you.”

City News Service contributed to this report.