Temecula martial arts instructor arrested for alleged sexual assault; more victims sought

Riverside County investigators are seeking additional victims of a Temecula martial arts instructor who was arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a minor this week. 

In a news release, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said that Southwest Station deputies and Special Victims Unit investigators began looking into the allegations on Wednesday, June 24, after they were contacted by a victim who "reported being assaulted during a martial arts lesson."

They identified the suspect as 62-year-old Dzung Mai, who they said "had been teaching martial arts from his residence for the past several years, instructing students aged 5 to 19."

Upon serving a search warrant at a residence in the 31000 block of Iris Way, deputies arrested Mai without incident. He was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center on multiple sexual assault charges in lieu of $1 million bail, the release said. 

"The investigation is active and ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time," deputies said. 

On Tuesday, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office charged Mai with nine counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old and multiple sentence-enhancing allegations of targeting more than one victim in sex crimes. If convicted as charged, Mai faces 25 years to life in state prison, prosecutors said.

During his court appearance, prosecutors said that the alleged abuse of one victim began in August 2020 and continued until August 2024. They said that Mai allegedly put his hands on "certain parts" of one of the girl's body to gratify his "lust, passions and sexual desires."

Prosecutors also said that two other victims were allegedly abused from May 2024 until his arrest.

Anyone who knows more was urged to contact Special Victims Unit Investigator Andrade at 951-955-2777..