A Texas taekwondo instructor has been arrested following allegations of both physical and se xual misconduct involving an 11-year-old male student, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Bach Kuang Chong, 24, was taken into custody on February 12th on charges of indecency with a child, se xual contact, and injury to a child with intent to commit bodily injury. Chong was formerly employed as an instructor at the Paramount Taekwondo Center in Boerne, Texas, and had served as one of the boy’s coaches for approximately five years, during which time he traveled with the boy’s family to numerous tournaments.
According to BCSO Sheriff Javier Salazar, Chong visited the boy’s home on February 8th to discuss whether the child would be traveling out of town for an upcoming tournament. A disagreement arose between Chong and the boy’s family over the matter, which then escalated. Salazar stated that Chong placed the boy in a “chokehold” and also injured his stomach once the child’s mother had left the room.
The situation extends further than that single incident. Authorities reported that Chong would “rough wrestle” inside vehicles with the boy, and that those encounters would often turn sexual. The sheriff’s office also noted that Chong would skip taekwondo practices entirely after picking up the child.
The boy’s mother, who had grown suspicious, placed a tracker with her son after noticing the missed practices. Despite those suspicions, the child continued to be placed in Chong’s care.
When the mother later informed Chong that she no longer wanted him around her son, he reportedly threatened to ruin the boy’s career. Sheriff Salazar also indicated that there could potentially be more individuals who experienced similar treatment at the hands of Chong.
McDojo Life commentator Rob, who covered the story, pointed out several parental decisions that raised additional concerns. He noted that inviting Chong into the home to have the tournament discussion, and then leaving the child alone in a room with someone she already suspected of wrongdoing, put the boy at unnecessary risk. He also questioned why, once the mother had enough concern to use a tracker, the child was not simply removed from the situation entirely rather than continuing to attend sessions with Chong.
“If you have the suspicion that your child is being in any way taken advantage of by anyone, you probably shouldn’t put your child in the custody of that person at all ever,” Rob said.
