Portsmouth martial arts center owner charged with sex assault

PORTSMOUTH — The owner of On-Site Family Martial Arts has been charged with multiple counts of assault after a monthlong investigation into an alleged incident at the business.

Harry Charache, a 67-year-old Stratham resident, faces three counts of sexual assault, four counts of simple assault and two counts of illegally performing chiropractic medicine, according to the Portsmouth Police Department. All the charges are misdemeanors.

Detective Sgt. Kevin McCarthy said a single alleged victim, an adult, reported on April 2 that a sexual assault had occurred at the martial arts facility. Portsmouth police investigated and identified Charache as the alleged perpetrator at the Robert Avenue business.

“Part of all this was that he was presenting his actions as a medical intervention as opposed to anything else,” McCarthy said, explaining the charges of unlawful practice of chiropractic medicine.

According to his biography on his business’ website, Charache has taught martial arts for 40 years after starting training in New York in 1979. Charache has taught students in the Seacoast since 1989.

Charache turned himself in to Portsmouth police Wednesday, posting a $1,000 cash bail, according to police. He is scheduled to be arraigned July 8 at the city district court.

Attempts to contact Charache on Thursday were not immediately successful. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney.

Police ask anyone with information to contact detective Matthew Frederickson at (603) 610-7667.

Anonymous tips can be reported via Seacoast Crime Stoppers at (603) 431-1199, at seacoastcrimestoppers.com or through “P3” phone application available as a free download. Rewards of up to $1,000 may be paid for information leading to an arrest or indictment, according to police.

This story may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth martial arts center owner charged with sex assault