FREEHOLD – A former youth tennis instructor has been convicted for numerous sexual crimes committed against a 12-year-old student over the course of more than a year, officials said.
Terry Y. Kuo, 32, of Colts Neck was found guilty following a two-week trial.
Kuo was accused of engaging in various instances of sexual misconduct with a student on multiple occasions from August 2016 through November 2017. Authorities later found digital files containing child sexual abuse material on Kuo’s electronic devices, as well as evidence of sexual crimes committed against the victim.
Through digital and physical evidence, as well as witness testimony from the victim, the State proved that Kuo showered her with gifts such as expensive electronics, jewelry, and designer clothing and accessories while coercing her into engaging in sexual activity with him.
Kuo was arrested in Marlboro in November 2017 and initially indicted in February 2018. Superseding indictments were filed upon the recovery and review of additional evidence, in December 2018 and January 2023, before the trial began late last month.
The jury found Kuo guilty of two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, first-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Manufacture of Child Sexual Abuse Materials, first-degree Kidnapping, three counts of second-degree Sexual Assault, second-degree Endangering via Manufacture of Child Sexual Abuse Materials, third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, third-degree Endangering via Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials, third-degree Endangering via Engaging in Sexual Conduct, third-degree Obscenity, fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact, and fourth-degree Conspiracy to Commit Evidence Tampering.
“The conduct of this defendant, so thoroughly outlined by our prosecutors during the course of this trial, was nearly incomprehensibly manipulative and predatory,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said. “We sincerely thank the jury for carefully weighing the facts and reaching the appropriate conclusion.”
Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for December 1, at which time Kuo could face a term of up to life in state prison. He currently remains detained at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) in Freehold Township.
