A former U.S. gymnastics coach who has ties to the infamous doctor Larry Nassar is 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 London Olympics, is charged with 20 counts of trafficking in human beings and forced labor, one count of racketeering, two counts of criminal sexual conduct and one count of lies. the police, according to a criminal complaint in Michigan filed in Eaton County.
In the two criminal sexual acts, Geddert (63) is accused of ‘sexual penetration’ of a girl under 16 in January 2012, according to the complaint.
“John Geddert uses violence, fraud and coercion against the young athletes who came to him for gymnastics training to the financial benefit of him,” State Attorney General Dana Nessel told reporters.
The victims suffer from disordered eating habits including bulimia and anorexia, suicide attempts and self-harm, excessive physical conditioning, and are forced to perform even when injured, extreme emotional abuse and physical abuse, including sexual assault. Many of these victims carry still these scars from his behavior to this day. ‘
Several gymnasts have publicly accused Nassar of sexually abusing them at Geddert’s Twistars Gymnasium in Dimondale, Michigan.
Nassar, who sexually abused a Michigan court in January 2018, is serving up to 175 years in prison and is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The charge of police lie is related to Geddert’s alleged knowledge of Nassar’s crimes.
“Mr. Geddert knew that Nassar had sexually abused these patients and that he had not taken action,” Assistant Attorney General Danielle Hagaman-Clark said.
“And when asked about it by police officers during the 2016 investigation into Nassar, he lied about it.”
Geddert handed himself over to Eaton County delegates Thursday morning and would appear in court later that afternoon, prosecutors said.
A defense attorney from Geddert could not be reached immediately for comment Thursday.
Geddert’s alleged victims have not been identified.
The 2012 women’s gymnastics team was led by the ‘Fierce Five’ of Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney, who won gold for the team everywhere.
Douglas won gold for the individual, while Maroney scored silver in the vault and Raisman bronze on the balance beam and gold for the floor exercise.