Posted on 12/16/2010 1:15:35 PM PST by nickcarraway
A La Mesa karate instructor, out on bail while facing chargers of molesting a teenage boy, was back in court Thursday for a bail review.
According to prosecutors, Eric Protas, 38, has been spending time on the Internet, posting comments to a Facebook page comparing himself to Jesus and his teen accuser to Judas.
Protas is accused of sexually abusing a former student over a one-year period. Prosecutors allege that Protas had sexual contact with the victim 300 times in the past year and a half.
Prosecutors asked the judge to increase bail based on the Facebook activity and comments they allege Protas posted encourage others to intimidate the accuser.
They also alleged that DNA samples recovered from Protas' sheets came from several different men, although prosecutors could not provide any other information on the source of the DNA evidence.
The judge denied the motion to increase bail but did tell Protas that he was to adhere to the confines of his bail and stay away from posting comments online about the case. In October, the boy testified in court that the first time the pair had sex was at a sleepover the night before a class trip to go and play paintball.
"It took me awhile to understand -- I did not understand the clues that he was giving me, but he said that maybe if we wrestled, something would come out," the now 14-year-old told the court.
The alleged victim also testified he would spend every day with Protas, who he said was like a father figure to him.
"At first it started real slow, maybe once or twice a week, and then it began more frequent[ly], maybe five or six days a week almost every time," the teen told the court. The boy said Protas would make him feel guilty if he did not comply.
Initially, Eric Protas faced four charges of oral copulation and sodomy with a minor. Prosecutors added 18 more charges against the defendant. If convicted, Protas faces 48 years in jail.
Is he claiming that Jesus was a sodomite?
This is a particularly grave case (alleged, anyway) in the following sense. The accuser is NOW 14 ... and alleges that he was molested 300 times over the prior YEAR AND A HALF. My point is that this kid was probably TWELVE.
“Is he claiming that Jesus was a sodomite?”
No I think he is saying he is a “saint” and the boy is “betraying him”.
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