Former gymnastics coach sentenced to 90 years in jail for secretly filming younger athletes

A former coach at a prestigious Iowa gymnastics academy recognized for coaching Olympic athletes has been sentenced to 90 years in federal jail for secretly recording younger gymnasts altering garments and utilizing the lavatory at a Mississippi gymnasium.

Sean Gardner, 39, of West Des Moines, Iowa, acquired three consecutive 30-year jail phrases after pleading responsible earlier this 12 months to 3 counts of manufacturing of kid sexual abuse materials, court docket data present.

U.S. District Judge Kristi Johnson additionally ordered a lifetime time period of supervised launch following his incarceration and to pay about $9,290 in restitution to victims.

Court data present he was remanded to U.S. Marshals Service custody.

Federal prosecutors stated Gardner abused his place of belief to secretly create recordings of kids whereas working at a gymnastics facility in Purvis, Mississippi. Investigators later found pictures and movies from digital gadgets taken from his Iowa house.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, the investigation started after stories have been made to the U.S. Center for SafeSport alleging “inappropriate conduct involving minor athletes.” SafeSport referred the matter to legislation enforcement, resulting in a joint native and federal investigation.

Prosecutors stated Gardner used his entry to kids as a gymnastics coach in Purvis to “surreptitiously record minors changing clothes and using the bathroom.”

During a search of his Iowa residence, investigators discovered a number of digital gadgets.

A forensic examination uncovered quite a few pictures and movies depicting kids, together with some youthful than 12, in response to prosecutors.

Investigators stated the recordings confirmed kids altering garments or in any other case partially undressed and have been captured utilizing a hid digicam.

Authorities decided a number of recordings have been made in a toilet on the Purvis gymnasium the place Gardner labored from 2017 to 2018, prosecutors stated. Investigators recognized a number of kids proven within the movies as former gymnastics college students.

Gardner was arrested by the FBI in August 2025 and pleaded responsible in May to 3 counts of manufacturing of kid sexual abuse materials, in response to prosecutors.

“This is one of the most reprehensible crimes prosecuted by my office,” U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger stated in a press release asserting the responsible plea. “Coach Sean Gardner exploited his position to abuse and exploit those children he was entrusted to mentor and care for.”