US Gymnastics Coach Sean Gardner Sentenced to 90 Years in Prison
Former American gymnastics coach Sean Gardner was sentenced to 90 years in prison for secretly filming underage gymnasts, sparking renewed scrutiny over sports oversight.
Gymnastics Coach Sentenced to 90 Years
Former American gymnastics coach Sean Gardner has been sentenced to 90 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to installing a hidden camera in a gymnasium bathroom in Mississippi. The court found him guilty of producing child sexual abuse material involving minors.
Investigation and Charges
According to the investigation, Gardner covertly filmed young gymnasts changing and using the restroom between December 2017 and April 2018. Investigators discovered explicit videos of at least ten minors on his electronic devices.
Justice Kristi Johnson imposed the maximum possible sentence of 30 years for each of the three federal counts, ensuring that the 39-year-old former coach will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Institutional Oversight and Lawsuits
Civil lawsuits and police reports revealed that sports organizations, including USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport, allegedly received warnings regarding Gardner's behavior as early as 2017 but failed to remove him from the sport promptly. SafeSport eventually suspended him in 2022 following further allegations.
