Jose Alex Zamora, 29, a manager at Legendary Martial Arts in Surprise, was arrested Wednesday after police investigated an alleged sexual relationship with a student that authorities say began when she was 14. Police say they are concerned there may be additional victims because of Zamora’s position of trust and access to juveniles.
The investigation began February 23, 2026, after Surprise police received a tip about a 17-year-old student’s alleged relationship with Zamora, who goes by Alex, according to azfamily.com. The anonymous tipster said the relationship began when the student was 14, FOX 10 Phoenix reports. Court records cited by the station say Zamora had worked at the gym for seven years, first as the student’s martial-arts instructor and later as manager. The gym’s Instagram account congratulated him on becoming manager in 2025.
Instagram Messages Trace the Relationship's Timeline
Police say messages recovered from Zamora’s Instagram account indicated the relationship began before the student turned 14, azfamily.com reports. In an interview with detectives, Zamora reportedly said he was 27 and the student was 14 when the relationship became romantic in October 2023. He told police they had sex about once a week from November 2023 through March 2025, and said he believed she was 17 when they met, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. He reportedly told investigators he ended the relationship in March 2025 because he knew it was illegal.
According to FOX 10 Phoenix’s account of court documents, some encounters took place in Zamora’s car or a gym work van parked outside the student’s school. The documents reportedly describe sexual messages continuing as late as February 2026, while police said the student had sent him a message as recently as October 2025. In a January 2024 message, when Zamora was 27 and the student was 15, he reportedly wrote that he would never have expected to be doing what he was doing, but that “it certainly feels different.”
Messages Described in the Case Records
FOX 10 Phoenix reports that court documents describe Zamora asking the student whether he was grooming her; she reportedly answered that he was not. Investigators also say messages showed Zamora telling her he had deleted nude photos of her, and that she knew the relationship was illegal and wanted to keep it secret. The station reports he discussed being more cautious and finding someone legal in the future. In a probable-cause statement, he reportedly wrote, “I wouldn't call it that, I was already trynna be cautious because I knew how it could turn out. I'd say not my best idea but that's life I guess.”
Police cited by FOX 10 Phoenix say the student described Zamora to a friend as her 27-year-old boyfriend. Her mother reportedly told police that her daughter denied the allegations and did not want to pursue the case. Surprise police say Zamora acknowledged in an interview that he knew the student was underage when the relationship began and said he ended it because he knew it was illegal, according to azfamily.com.
Eight Felony Counts and a $150,000 Bond
FOX 10 Phoenix reports that Zamora faces eight felony counts: six counts of sexual conduct with a minor, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child and one count of child enticement. The case is listed under incident number 260201435. Arizona law defines sexual conduct with a minor to include intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with someone under 18; under certain age-gap conditions, the offense can be a class 4 felony, according to the Arizona Legislature. Child enticement is generally a class 5 felony, but can be a class 4 felony when the defendant held a position of trust, according to the Arizona Legislature.
Zamora was jailed on a $150,000 bond, FOX 10 Phoenix reports. At the time of the station’s report, he had not been arraigned or entered a plea; his next court date was scheduled for November 3. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Gym Says It Cut Ties and Is Cooperating
Legendary Martial Arts removed Zamora from the school after learning of the allegations, according to a gym statement reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, and the gym says it is cooperating with Surprise police and contacting families directly. Police say the investigation remains active and, citing Zamora's position of trust and access to juveniles, believe there may be additional victims. Authorities are asking anyone with similar experiences or information about the case to contact the Surprise Police Department at 623-222-4000 or 623-222-TIPS (8477).
What National Data Can Show
The Administration for Children and Families’ Child Maltreatment 2022 report covers abuse and neglect known to child protective services agencies during federal fiscal year 2022. It does not specifically count cases involving martial-arts programs, so it cannot provide a program-specific measure for instructors in those settings.
The case echoes other recent Arizona child sex crime prosecutions involving people in positions of trust over young people. Earlier this week, a former Phoenix teacher and coach was sentenced to 20 years in prison and lifetime probation in a case involving students and dark web child sex abuse material, according to KOLD.
