A 29-year-old former taekwondo instructor accused of molestation is now facing charges in two counties after action taken Monday by Tulsa County prosecutors.
Lyndon Cole Jarman was charged with 3 counts of lewd molestation, 1 count of lewd or indecent proposal to a minor, and 1 count of aggravated possession of child pornography. The bond on those three charges is $825,000, Tulsa County court records show, and a plea of not guilty has been entered for Jarman.
In Wagoner County, Jarman has been charged with 3 counts of lewd acts to a child under 16, 2 counts of outraging public decency, and 1 count of domestic abuse in the presence of a minor stemming from an incident with his wife. Total bond on those charges is another $350,000.
The prosecutor’s office aims to provide accountability for the suspect while ensuring healing for the victims.
Police have revealed that Jarman is accused of molesting five boys who were his students. Assistant Wagoner County District Attorney John Bennett said that these young boys, who viewed Jarman as family, were taken advantage of by someone they trusted.
“Unfortunately, we’re intimately aware things like this do happen in the community. It happens more often than people think it does,” Bennett said.
Jarman worked at Martial Arts Advantage in Broken Arrow, where he reportedly spent time alone with the boys outside of class. The affidavit details trips to the mall, track, and gym, where the alleged incidents occurred. One boy claimed the abuse happened monthly for two years, and all boys reported that Jarman instructed them not to tell anyone.
“We believe children when they say things that happen to them. We work hard, hand in hand with law-enforcement to corroborate those allegations made by these children and if possible, file criminal charges and hold defendants accountable for the terrible decisions they make,” Bennett said.
“Certainly, allegations of this nature are difficult to process, but while the defendant is innocent until proven guilty, these allegations point to concerning patterns of abuse,” he noted.
The investigation began after police received a cyber tip regarding nearly 200 images of child sexual abuse material found in Jarman’s Dropbox account, to which he admitted ownership. Bennett, who has handled similar cases before, emphasized the importance of approaching each victim’s experience with care and sensitivity.
“We certainly tailor our prosecutions to make it as easy as possible for alleged victims. It’s not easy,” he said.
Jarman has been unable to make bond and is still in custody at the Wagoner County Jail, where he faces a March 19 preliminary hearing in District Court. An arrest warrant has been issued for Jarman in Tulsa County as well.
Martial Arts Advantage posted on its Facebook page that Jarman came “highly recommended” by his previous instructor and passed a background check when he was hired.
The business said in a Facebook post it was “deeply horrified and shocked” at the allegations but noted that employees must pass a “rigorous” background check and participate in mandatory drug testing.
“Additionally,” the company said, “we have comprehensive safety measures in place, including a fully monitored and recorded surveillance system throughout our facility, as well security codes for entry during off hours. To be clear, we remain committed to fostering a safe and positive environment for all students and our BA community.”
Jarman was also an instructor at Midtown Martial Arts from 2020 to 2022. The company said on Facebook that Jarman, “came highly recommended by senior and respected instructors in the martial arts community and had a clean background check at the time of his hiring.
“The allegations against him stem from events before his employment with us and are currently under investigation. Today, every Midtown Martial Arts instructor has passed a background check, and we have comprehensive safety measures in place, including a fully monitored and recorded surveillance system throughout our facility.
“To be clear, we have had no reports of misconduct at our school, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and positive environment for all.” Anyone with information relevant to the ongoing investigation by the Broken Arrow Police Department is asked to contact Det. Robinson at CRobinson@BrokenArrowOK.Gov.
