Karate instructor faces jail time in sexual assault case

OLD BRIDGE — A local karate school instructor pleaded guilty last week to a charge of sexually assaulting a female student.

Patrick Betterton, 24, of Marlboro Road, Old Bridge, pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree sexual assault, admitting he had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old student in Old Bridge on one occasion, sometime between March and April 2007, according to a press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.

Under a plea agreement negotiated with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Linda Estremera, the defendant faces six years in a New Jersey state prison when he is sentenced Oct. 5 by State Superior Court Judge Bradley Ferencz at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick. As part of the plea agreement, Betterton will be listed on the state's registry for sex offenders and will be required to undergo parole supervision for the rest of his life.

Betterton was arrested Feb. 19 at his studio, Tristar Martial Arts, after an investigation by Old Bridge Detective Richard Tulko and Investigator Daniel Ruschak of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office determined that the girl had been sexually assaulted.

Betterton, who remains in custody at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick, pleaded guilty after waiving his right to have the case reviewed by a Middlesex County grand jury, according to the prosecutor's office.