A former U.S. gymnastics coach who has ties to disgraced doctor Larry Nassar was charged Thursday with two dozen criminal offenses, including illegal sexual conduct and human trafficking.
John Geddert, who led the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2012 Olympic games in London, was charged with 20 counts of human trafficking and forced labor resulting in injury, one count of racketeering, two counts of criminal sexual conduct and one count of lying to police, according to a Michigan state criminal complaint filed in Eaton County.
In the two criminal sexual conduct counts, Geddert, 63, is accused of “sexual penetration” of a girl under 16 in January 2012, according to the complaint.
Several gymnasts publicly accused Nassar of sexually abusing them at Geddert’s Twistars gym in Dimondale, Michigan.
Nassar, who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 10 minors in a Michigan court in January 2018, is serving up to 175 years in prison and is expected to be behind bars for the rest of his life.
Geddert’s lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday.
State prosecutors are scheduled to meet with reporters and discuss the case at 1 p.m. ET.
Geddert’s alleged victims have not been identified.
The 2012 women’s gymnastic squad was led by the “Fierce Five” of Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney, who won gold for the team all-around.
Douglas won gold for the individual all-around while Maroney scored silver in the vault and Raisman bronze on the balance beam and gold for the floor exercise.
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Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
