Former South Elgin karate teacher accused of having sex with 2 students

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Dean Fuerstenberg / photo from DuPage County Sheriff's office

Updated: February 26, 2012 8:10AM

SOUTH ELGIN — A former employee of the National Karate & Kickboxing studio has been charged with sexually molesting two teenage female students there during 2003-2005.

Dean Fuerstenberg, 43, of Eden Prairie, Minn., was already being held in DuPage County on similar charges. On Tuesday, he was indicted by a Kane County grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual assault, each a Class 1 felony, and six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, which is a Class 2 felony.

According to the indictment, between June 1, 2003, and Nov. 30, 2005, Fuersten­berg took advantage of his position of authority as a karate instructor and engaged in sexual acts with two girls who were over age 13 but younger than 18.

According to the indictment, he touched one girl’s buttocks and vaginal areas, and had oral sex with another girl after similarly touching her. The studio is at 1272 W. Spring St.

After the indictment was read, a Kane County judge ordered Fuerstenberg held on $750,000 bond and set a court appearance for 9 a.m. on Feb. 3 before Associate Judge James Hallock, according to a statement from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.

In August 2011, Fuerstenberg was indicted in DuPage County on two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, each a Class X felony, and four counts of criminal sexual assault, each a Class 1 felony, the release said.

DuPage County prosecutors allege that between May 2001 and May 2006, at a Roselle martial arts school, Fuerstenberg engaged in sexual acts with a victim younger than 17.

His next court appearance in that case is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 29 at the Wheaton courthouse. Fuerstenberg has been in custody at the DuPage County Jail with bail set at $700,000.

Detective Sgt. Mike Doty of the South Elgin Police Department declined to comment on how the new charges came to light but said Fuerstenberg’s time at National Karate & Kickboxing remains under investigation. Doty asked that anyone with additional information about Fuerstenberg call him at 847-741-2151.