Former Tae Kwon Do Instructor Takes Plea Deal in Sexual Assault Case

A Scio Township man, accused of assaulting children he taught as a martial arts instructor throughout Washtenaw County, agreed to spend the next 20 to 30 years in prison under a plea deal with prosecutors on March 23.

Edward Bruner, 58, will officially be sentenced May 3 on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child younger than 13, and one count of possessing child sexually abusive material, court records show. Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Donald Shelton already has said he will apply state sentencing guidelines that call for a minimum of 20 years incarceration.

Michigan State Police troopers Bruner in January, after motorists reported seeing him driving erratically while engaged in a sex act with another individual on westbound I-94 near Chelsea. Investigators said the person in the car was a 12-year-old boy that Bruner instructed at Kitchi Tae Kwon Do in Dexter Township, where he worked for more than two years.

The studio is owned and operated by Mike Trester, a Washtenaw County Sheriff’s detective lieutenant. Trester said Bruner passed a thorough background check and never showed signs of dangerous or suspicious activity with the students.

Bruner was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography after investigators searched his home. Following media reports of Bruner’s arrest, a second person, now 19, came forward to report to authorities that Bruner sexually assaulted him in 2004. At that time, Bruner taught martial arts at a different business in the Ann Arbor area. Bruner also worked at the Ann Arbor West Tae Kwon Do and Victory Tae Kwon Do in Chelsea.

Investigators said Bruner used the martial arts studios as a venue to meet and contact victims, whom he also developed relationships with outside of the businesses.

He is represented by the office of Washtenaw County Public Defender Lloyd Powell, who said he has a policy not to comment on ongoing cases. He did not respond to requests for comment this week.

Burner remains in custody at the Washtenaw County Jail without bond.