Olympic gymnastic coach accused of child molestation
INDIANAPOLIS - Authorities have arrested the head of an Indianapolis gymnastics academy who coached two members of the 2008 U.S. women's Olympics team.
Marion County Jail records say 48-year-old Marvin Sharp was being held Monday on a preliminary charge of child molesting.
Sharp was arrested after police officers searched his Indianapolis home and Sharp's Gymnastics Academy on Sunday. Details on the allegations against him weren't immediately released, and the Marion County prosecutor's office said the case remained under investigation.
The Associated Press left a message seeking comment at a home phone number listed in Sharp's name.
The Indianapolis Star reports Sharp coached central Indiana natives Bridget Sloan and Samantha Peszek before they were members of the U.S. team that won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
CBS Indianapolis affiliate WTTV reports former coaches and gymnasts are defending Sharp.
One woman, who declined to be identified, told the station she has known Sharp for over 15 years and doesn't believe the allegations are true.
"He's probably, of all the coaches I have come across, the least likely I would ever think to do something like he's being accused of," she said.
While it's unclear if the allegations stem from any incident in the gym, the woman was quick to point out gymnastics is a hands on sport and Sharp, as well as other coaches at the gym, have been trained on proper spotting techniques.
Michele Callahan, a current coach at Sharp's Gymnastics Academy, released a statement to WTTV saying she stands by Sharp.
"Gymnastics is a sport where its very nature puts male coaches at risk of false accusations. I have seen such a thing happen to another coach. I certainly hope this can be cleared up quickly before it affects his very positive and respectable career," Callahan said.