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Gilbert karate teacher pleads guilty to abusing minor

The 23-year-old martial arts instructor was arrested last year for allegedly abusing a teenager.

GILBERT, Ariz. — A Gilbert martial arts instructor pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of sexual misconduct involving a minor. 

Dyllon DePalma, 23, was arrested last year after the instructor from the East Valley's Team USA Martial Arts was accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old former student.

At the time of his arrest, police said DePalma engaged in multiple instances of sexual conduct with the juvenile after he asked the teen to work for him at the karate school’s front desk.

Court officials said the defendant recently pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual conduct with a minor and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1.

*Editor's Note: The above video is from an earlier broadcast*

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