News / Society

Gymnastics coach accused of child molestation found dead in Indiana jail

Monday, 21 September 2015 5:56 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 21 September 2015 6:06 PM ]

Indianapolis coach of Olympic gymnasts charged with child molesting and sexual misconduct was found dead in his jail cell on Saturday.

Marvin Sharp, a former Indianapolis gymnastics coach, has died of an apparent suicide in his cell at the Indiana jail.

County sheriff's spokeswoman Katie Carlson said in a statement that Sharp, 49, was found dead on Saturday night in his cell at the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis where he was being held on charges of child pornography and molestation.

She did not provide details on the cause of death but said no foul play was suspected.

"A follow up investigation is being conducted by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Marion County Coroner's Office," Carlson said.

Sharp had coached some members of the 2008 US Olympic women’s gymnastics team and was named coach of the year for USA Gymnastics, the US governing body for the sport, in 2010, the Indianapolis Star reported.

He was incarcerated in August after being convicted on four counts of child molestation and three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, Marion County court records show.

At least one of the molestation charges involved fondling a victim under the age of 14, according to the charges.

According to the charging documents, investigators found thousands of sexually explicit images of minors in locked safes in his Indianapolis home and at his business, Sharp's Gymnastics Academy.

The academy also had a photography studio where Sharp repeatedly photographed the girl and allegedly fondled her while adjusting her clothing.

Michele Callahan, a current coach at Sharp's Gymnastics Academy, released a statement to the virtual channel 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.

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