Karate instructor Andrew M. Jacobs faces the possibility of life in prison for crimes including the abduction and attempted abduction of two of his former 10-year-old students.
Jacobs, 43, entered the Vienna townhouse of his martial arts students a little past midnight on Oct. 2, 2005. Dressed all in black with a black ski mask, Jacobs used the knife of his “multi-purpose tool” to cut towels into strips in the laundry room of the home, said Marc Birnbaum, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Jacobs told detectives that he intended to use the towel strips to keep everybody quiet as he stole money, jewelry and electronics, according to search warrants filed last fall.
Jacobs next went to the bedroom of his students who were sleeping, and forced a towel into the mouth of one. She alerted her twin sister, who grabbed Jacobs’ leg and bit his finger before Jacobs punched her twice, said Birnbaum.
“It is ironic that the children responded to the attack in the manner in which they were instructed by the suspect during their lessons. This response by the children is what alerted their parents of the intruder in their home,” said Vienna Police Chief Mike Miller last October.
The parents ran to their daughters’ room, where the father exchanged punches with Jacobs and bit his hand. The mother struck Jacobs in the head several times with a lamp, said Birnbaum.
The parents thought they recognized the intruder as Jacobs, who had taught their children at a Vienna martial arts studio.
When police went to Jacobs’ house later that day, detectives noticed “fresh” injuries to his face and head, Birnbaum said.
<b>“I DID NOT</b> go in there with the intention to hurt anyone,” Jacobs told Judge Stanley P. Klein, during the hearing last Friday, Feb. 24.
Jacobs pleaded guilty to one count of abduction and one count of attempted abduction, punishable up to 10 years and five years, respectively.
Jacobs also entered an Alford plea to breaking and entering while armed with a deadly weapon.
A defendant who enters an Alford plea admits that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict, without admitting guilt. The court may then impose a sentence as if the defendant had been convicted of the crime.
That charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum of 20 years in prison.
Jacobs told Judge Klein he denies intending to use a deadly weapon.
"I've never been in trouble with the law in my life, your Honor," said Jacobs, who dropped out of school in 11th grade and said he reads at a fourth or fifth grade level.
Through his attorney Lavonda Graham, Jacobs requested to be released on bond.
“This is a horrible crime, and he is potentially a danger to the community,” said Judge Klein, who sent Jacobs back to jail.
Jacobs is scheduled to be sentenced in May.