Conshohocken Karate Teacher Who Abused Students Imprisoned: Feds

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — A Conshohocken karate teacher has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing two of his young students, authorities said.

Evan Burgess, 28, of Blue Bell, will spend the next six and a half years behind bars, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Savage ordered Tuesday. In June, he pleaded guilty to two counts of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Burgess was previously an instructor at a Conshohocken-based outfit, Destolfo's Premier Martial Arts.

During two separate lengthy road trips — one to East Elmhurst, New York in Sept. 2014, and one to National Harbor, Maryland in Aug. 2016 — Burgess sexually abused two young boys who were his students, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

U.S. Attorney William McSwain said that the abuse was "sometimes brazen...while other adults were in the room or nearby."

Burgess also faces 15 years of probation upon release, and will be required to register as a sex offender.