NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — The owner of Xtreme Dragons Black Belt Academy was denied bond Tuesday morning. Jeremy Armstead, 30, is jailed on 15 felony counts.
Police say Armstead began sexually assaulting girls ages 12, 15 and 15, as early as 2014. All three were students at his martial arts school.
Court documents say Armstead initially raped the 12-year-old in early 2015, and then raped or sodomized her three more times until December last year.
By then, Armstead had moved his martial arts school to 13901 Warwick Boulevard, where it operated until the day in late August when he was arrested.
Police say the earlier offenses involving the 12-year-old victim happened when Armstead’s martial arts school was located on Oyster Point Road.
Neighboring businesses on Oyster Point have mixed recollections of Armstead, and were shocked and angered about his case. “Wow, that’s crazy,” said Wanda Harris who manages a store nearby. “He was a nice guy, he never came over and bothered any of our employees.”
Cassandra Simpson moved her business into Armstead’s previous location. She says Armstead betrayed the parents of his victims. “You’re putting your trust in a professional to be teaching them. It’s disgusting really, there’s no better word.”
Police say Armstead’s crimes began in 2014 with one of the 15-year-old girls, shortly after Xtreme Dragons opened at its original location on Brick Kiln road.
The charges against Armstead include rape, sodomy and kidnapping. All of the alleged crimes occurred at the school. His next court date is October 19.
