A former San Diego karate instructor said he would sometimes touch students on their buttocks โas a jokeโ and admitted he would massage his students, but never touched them in a sexual way.
He also admitted to asking a student to take pictures of himself while in the shower.
Juan Melesio Flores, 39, is accused of molesting two young male students at Z-Ultimate Studio in Tierrasanta in 2013. Flores faces more than a dozen felony charges, including committing a lewd act on a minor and oral copulation.
Flores took the stand in his own defense Monday and was asked about interactions with three of his former students.
When asked by his attorney if he had touched his students in any sexual way, Flores replied no. He was asked if he committed a sex act on his students. Flores replied no.
But under cross examination by Deputy District Attorney Wendy Patrick, Flores admitted to touching a student inappropriately.
โDid you think a skin to skin buttocks massage was inappropriate?โ Patrick asked.
โAt the time, yes,โ Flores replied.
โBut you did it anyway?โ asked Patrick.
Local
โYes,โ said Flores.
The defendant also said he would โjokinglyโ attempt to touch one of his students on the buttocks while hugging.
Flores also admitted to sending a text message to one of his students who said he was going to take a shower.
โI remember my response was โcool take a picโ,โ Flores said. โWe were joking.โ
In court, jurors saw photographs of naked young-looking men on Floresโ phone that he said he took from the internet.
Attorneys said closing arguments could begin by the end of Monday.