A Bradenton martial arts instructor is facing criminal charges after detectives say he sexually abused a 14-year-old student he met at the facility.
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Brennon Cooper Brown, 24, is charged with three felony counts of lewd or lascivious battery on a minor. He was an instructor at Ancient Ways Martial Arts Academy, 4774 Cortez Road, according to an arrest warrant.
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Brown and the girl messaged each other on social media and began to spend time together outside of the martial arts school, investigators say. According to an arrest report, Brown sexually abused the girl between February 2023 and May 2023.
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In an interview with the Bradenton Herald, Boon Brown, the owner of Ancient Ways and Brennon Brown’s father, was dismissive of the charges against his son. He claimed that Brennon would be “fully exonerated” in court.
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“The accusations didn’t happen at my business and he is no longer employed here,” Brown said.
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As of Thursday, there is no mention of Brennon Brown on the martial arts studio’s website, but an earlier version of the website said he began training in martial arts at three years old and that he was “a favorite instructor for many of our students.”
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According to the studio’s website, Ancient Ways teaches about 300 students of all ages, ranging from preschool to adult classes.
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Detectives began investigating the sexual abuse case in July after the girl’s father filed a complaint, according to an arrest report.
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Police arrested Brennon Brown on May 6 and charged him with three counts of lewd or lascivious battery against a minor, according to the sheriff’s office website. Court documents show Brennon Brown was released from the Manatee County Jail the next day after posting bond totaling $22,500.
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Michael Moore Jr. is a public safety and justice reporter for the Bradenton Herald. He covers crime, courts, and law enforcement. Michael grew up in Bradenton and graduated from the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg.
