>>> Guilty! <<< Name: Nick Wickerham Age: 61 School: Summit Academy, Transition High School, Columbus, Ohio Position: Martial arts instructor (also taught at Groveport Recreation Center, Groveport, Ohio) Victim: Girl, 10 Email: nick.wickerham@summitacademies.org (From web page for "Marshal" Arts Department, Summit Academies, Transition High School, Columbus, Ohio -- learn to spell correctly, teachers!) NBC4i (9 Jan 2012): Girl, 10, Says Instructor Touched Her Inappropriately 10 TV (9 Jan 2012): School Employee Arrested For Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Student ONN TV (9 Jan 2012): School Employee Arrested For Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Student
Thanks for sharing the story. I'm sure there are no other "victims" and this is a situation where someone misunderstood something. I have been a martial arts instructor for over 25 years and I know the details of trying on uniforms. I have also worked with ESE/Special Needs children for almost as long and have an understanding of their cognitive abilities, not to mention the over-protective nature of their parents. Figuring in this information with other bits and pieces of information that I happen to posess, it doesn't add up, and it saddens me when false (even if it is an honest mistake, but most especially when it is unadulterated vindictiveness)accusations occur. 1 it damages an innocent teacher's life. 2 it damages the reputation of the accuser. 3 it sucks the credibility out of legitimate abuse claims and cases.
Ok, first thing I have to say is I'm a former student/friend of Nick Wickerham. Nick is a good man.who loved his job. He has been training people for a while. When he called and told us what happened, I was heartbroken. I know for a fact that if the karate uniforms can be an awkward fit for kids. He was simply doing his job, and got in trouble for it. He is not a man that would do this kind of thing. He cares for all of his students, and wouldn't want to bring on the type of emotional destruction as molestation. He's taught me everything I know. I personally know Nick, and I know and believe he is innocent. This is a scand find it in their hearts to take it down its ndal. Yesterday he was sentenced to 7 years for something stupid. This is ridiculous. I am thoroughly appalled. He's a good man and was only doing his job. I hope the moderators of this site will read my posting and find it in their hearts to take this article down. 1, it only shows one side of the story. 2, Nick is too good of a person/friend/instructor. 3, it's false information. PLEASE BELIEVE ME NICK WICKERHAM IS A GOOD GUY I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE THE REMOVAL OF THIS ARTICLE. until then nick, my thoughts and prayers are with.
All I have to say is I'm sorry for what you think happened. Sensei Nick Wickerham would never do this kind of thing. I do not believe anything actually happened, its all a misunderstanding. Please mam, find it in your heart to forgive him for something he didn't do. I am a former student of Nick. While being trained by him I've achieved my black belt. I bet when your daughter told you that you were heartbroken. And i would be too. But many, Nick is not that type of sick individual. Now honestly the uniforms have a weird kinda awkwardly uncomfortable fit if not perfectly sized. If the pants are too tight you can't do kicks nor be nearly as flexible. And you don't want them to be too big because you can get your arms caught in the sleeves. He asked me the same thing when i first started. Please man, now that you've completely ruined his man's life, understand you and your husband made a big mistake. In the most respectful way possible, you're concerned parents who unfortunately doesn't know what you're talking about. I pray that you and your family will not rot in Hell for your ignorance. Thank you have a nice day.
Let me say you are assuming you know the facts my child was one of the victims there were a few I have known him for a few years and fitting a uniform does not include sliding your hands in panties and rubbing on private parts.. That was not part of the job nor should he have even had a child changing in his private office
He was innocent yet he went to prison this morning because of the evidence not of one but many girls.. I will sleep at night now that he is in prison and (expletive deleted) his life he ruined mine and my daughters
I don't believe that he would ever do something do sick. I've known Nick for almost 10 years and he is one of the greatest instructors I know. He taught me, my brother, sister and mom. Never did I get that feeling that he would do something like this. I would believe that there is a real boogie man in kids closets or monsters under the bed before I would believe that he touched some kid.
Isn't this woman's 10 minutes of fame over?? Ignore her go away! In your court dockets doesn't say anything about rubbing private parts! Your a lying attention seeking bad person please crawl back to the rock you came out from! I was raped by a family member and my mom never went to news! What you lied about will come back on you havent you been taught god sees all! I would hate for you to be my mom, I feel bad for your daughter someone please call children's services!
Columbus Dispatch: Accused martial-arts teacher worked in Groveport, too (Jan 11 2012) A martial-arts teacher for special-needs children who has been indicted on sex-related charges didn't have much experience working in schools. But Nick Wickerham, the Summit Academy charter school teacher who pleaded not guilty last week to two felony counts of gross sexual imposition, did have years of experience as a martial-arts instructor elsewhere. Most recently, he worked as an independent contractor teaching martial arts at Groveport Recreation Center from September 2010 until he was fired on Dec. 21. His resume shows he previously worked in sales and marketing with grocery and convenience-store chains. He also sold paint, mobile homes and insurance. Known as "Sensei Wickerham," the 61-year-old is accused of inappropriately touching a young student at Summit Academy.
Columbus Dispatch: Former teacher sentenced for groping students (June 7 2012) Nick R. Wickerham, 61, of Morse Road in Jefferson Township, entered Alford pleas to three counts of gross sexual imposition in a plea agreement in Franklin County Common Pleas Court ... Each of the girls, ages 7, 10 and 13, told investigators that Wickerham molested them last year when he was working as a martial-arts instructor at Summit Academy, a charter school that serves students with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Each girl told investigators that she was alone with Wickerham in his office or in the martial-arts room when he placed his hand down the front of her pants and touched her vagina, Assistant Prosecutor Dan Hawkins said. 10 TV: Former School Employee To Spend 7 Years In Jail For Sexually Assaulting Student (June 7 2012) A former central Ohio school employee accused of sexually assaulting a female student took a plea deal on Thursday. Nick Wickerham will spend seven years in prison convicted of gross sexual imposition of a child under the age of 13, 10TV News reported. Wickerham, 61, was an employee at Summit Academy in east Columbus when he sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl.
Columbus Dispatch: Molester gets seven years for school assaults on special-needs girls (June 8 2012) Nick R. Wickerham, 61, was sentenced to seven years in prison on three counts of gross sexual imposition — one for each of his young victims. He entered an Alford plea to the charges, meaning he didn’t admit guilt but conceded that the state had enough evidence to obtain a conviction. Three girls — ages 7, 10 and 13 — told investigators that Wickerham molested them last year when he was working as a martial-arts instructor at Summit Academy, a charter school that serves students with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Each girl reported that she was alone with Wickerham in his office or in the martial-arts room when he placed his hand down the front of her pants and touched her vagina, Assistant Prosecutor Dan Hawkins said. In the first case, the 10-year-old girl said Wickerham groped her while helping her try on martial-arts pants in his office on Dec. 9. The girl told a staff member about the incident on Dec. 14, and Wickerham resigned two days later.
No, there were three "accusers".. I know how ESE kids are, and I know how protective their parents can be, having worked with both for MANY years. Children in the ESE department have a tendency to have fanciful imaginations, and their parents have a tendency to be overprotective. Fitting a karate gi is a tricky thing.. Nick's only crime was thinking that you could ever work with the parents of those who are developmentally challenged. Working with the parents is FAR WORSE than working with the kids could ever be.
An Alford plea is a form of guilty plea -- he pleaded guilty. And yes, there are three victims here, not merely accusers.
