Dutchess County martial arts teacher arraigned on 42-count sex crime indictment
DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Dutchess County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday that 27-year-old Tyler LeClerc was arraigned on a 42-count indictment in a sex crime case. LeClerc was arrested in February after an investigation led by New York State Police.
LeClerc is accused of sexually abusing students at multiple locations of LeClerc’s Martial Arts School throughout Dutchess County, where LeClerc served as an instructor. The incidents allegedly took place between March 2021 and February 2025 and reportedly involved four different victims. LeClerc was arraigned before Judge Jessica Segal in Dutchess County Court on the following charges:
- First-degree sexual abuse
- Six counts of third-degree criminal sexual act
- 17 counts of forcible touching
- 18 counts of third-degree sexual abuse
"The defendant is arraigned on charges of abusing the trust placed in him by exploiting vulnerable students from LeClerc’s Martial Arts school. The allegations are deeply disturbing, and we are committed to ensuring that justice is served for the victims involved," Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi stated. "No child should ever feel unsafe in a place meant to foster discipline and respect. We will not tolerate any actions that endanger the well-being of our children."
LeClerc was returned to jail after his arraignment and is being held on a $200,000 cash bail, a $400,000 partially secured bond, or a $2 million unsecured bond. He's scheduled to return to court on April 24.