Martial arts instructor charged with sexual assault against teen in Allegheny County

HEIDELBERG, Pa. — A martial arts instructor is charged with sexual assault against a teen in Allegheny County.

The Allegheny County Police Department announced charges against Steven Charles Burnisky, 22, of McDonald, on Friday. He faces seven felony charges that include involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, sexual assault by a sports official or volunteer, dissemination to minors and corruption of minors. He also faces five counts of indecent assault.

Burnisky is an instructor at a martial arts studio in Heidelberg and police say his victim was a 13-year-old who attended private lessons with him on multiple occasions.

He is being held at the Allegheny County Jail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Channel 11 found photos of Burnisky posted to Facebook on the Steel City ATA page.

According to a now-deleted post on the studio’s website, Burnisky was an instructor there and a 4th-degree black belt.

“Dude, I’m like shocked. Considering the police department is right there. The council building is the same building. How does somebody get away with this?” Joyce Tenney said. She lives near the student and has family members who attend.

Tenney is calling on parents to keep a closer eye on their kids’ cell phones and believes no child should be alone with an instructor.

“There has to be somebody else there,” she said.

The teen also told police that every sexual encounter happened at the martial arts studio.

The studio is closed on Fridays. We have reached out to ownership for comment, but have not heard back.

“He should go to jail for a relatively decent amount of time and he should never be able to work around children,” Tenney said.

At last check, Burnisky was still in custody at the Allegheny County Jail and awaiting his preliminary arraignment.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Allegheny County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.

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