Former karate studio owner sentenced life plus 20 years

A Hays County jury convicted a man who used to own a karate studio on Ranch Road 12 near the Junction of continuous trafficking of a person and 63 counts of possession of child pornography on Friday after a two-week trial. Charges were originally filed in the case in 2014.

The evidence presented established that Richard Dale Griffin, 65, was arrested in July 2014 after the now 21-year old victim told her parents that she and Griffin had been engaged in a sexual relationship for a year and-a-half, beginning in 2012 when she was 14.

Witnesses testified that Griffin and the victim were acquainted while she was a student at Griffin’s karate studio in Wimberley. Griffin began lavishing attention on the victim after establishing a relationship with her family. Griffin provided her a cell phone after her family cut off contact with him. The victim described multiple secret meetings with Griffin, where they would engage in sexual activity.

Detectives from the Comal County and Hays County Sheriff’s Department began to collect evidence, including a cell phone and thousands of dollars in cash Griffin gave to the victim that corroborated her account after she told her family about the relationship. DNA from the victim was found in Griffin’s home and travel trailer. Dozens of sexually explicit photographs of the victim were found on Griffin’s cell phone and computer.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours and gave a guilty verdict on charges of continuous trafficking of a person and possession of 63 counts of child pornography on Thursday.

Griffin requested that his verdict be assessed by the judge who presided over the case, Gary Steel, on Friday Additional evidence heard revealed that at the time he was arrested he had been texting a 12-year-old girl in a similar fashion as he did to entice and seduce the victim in this case. The state president evidence detailing the impact Griffin’s action had on his victim and her physical and emotional wellbeing.

The judge sentenced Griffin to life in prison for the trafficking offense and 10 years in prison on each of the child pornography counts, with two of the pornography counts to be stacked on the life sentences.

“I’m pleased with the performance of all the law enforcement personnel who worked on bringing this case to its just conclusion,” Hays County District Attorney Wes Mau said. “Not just (Assistant District Attorney Benjamin) Gillis, who spent countless hours interviewing witnesses, reviewing evidence, and preparing for trial, but also Comal County Sheriff’s Department Detective Danny Dufur, Hays County Sheriff’s Office Sergeants Lenny Martinez and Mark Opiela, and many other officers, forensic scientists, child advocacy workers, and victims assistance personnel who made a successful prosecution possible. Most of all, I want to recognize the victim’s courage to come forward and face Mr. Griffin in court. Based on the evidence we have, I have little doubt that she saved Mr. Griffin’s next victim from suffering the same fate.”