A martial arts instructor who also worked as a substitute teacher and contract physical education instructor for Conroe Independent School District is accused of sexually abusing an underage student he trained at a studio in The Woodlands.
Stephen Andrew Zarruk, 32, was arrested Friday and charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
According to a media advisory released by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, Zarruk is an instructor at The Woodlands Karate & MMA—a martial arts studio that bills itself as “family-oriented.”
The sheriff’s office stated that Zarruk was accused of “sexually assaulting a young juvenile student during individualized training sessions” at the studio.
The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual abuse.
Zarruk was approved as a substitute teacher by the Conroe ISD school board in November 2021, at the recommendation of Human Resources Director Paula Green and Superintendent Curtis Null.
A statement from the district indicated that Zarruk underwent a background check at the time he was hired.
“Upon learning of this upsetting matter, steps were taken to begin the termination process. At this time, we have no indication anything inappropriate occurred on any Conroe ISD campus,” the statement read.
State records show Zarruk does not hold a Texas teaching certificate.
Zarruk was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $100,000 bond.
Anyone who has information about this case or concerns regarding their children’s interactions with Zarruk is urged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at (936) 760-5800.
Last year, a contract karate instructor in Fort Bend ISD was charged with sexually assaulting a middle school student and possessing child pornography.
Texas Scorecard has covered dozens of educators charged with sex crimes involving students and other children.
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