Un entraîneur célèbre condamné à 90 ans de prison pour avoir filmé des élèves

A former prominent U.S. youth gymnastics coach has been sentenced to 90 years in prison for secretly filming minors undressed and using the restroom at a gym in Mississippi. Sean Gardner, 39, admitted guilt in May to placing a hidden camera in a bathroom at a gymnastics studio in Purvis, Mississippi, between December 2017 and April 2018. The recordings captured close-ups of at least 10 minors either nude or partially clothed. Federal investigators discovered around 50 videos and 400 photographs on Gardner's computers during an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving gymnasts in Iowa. U.S. District Judge Kristi Johnson imposed the maximum allowable sentence for three counts of producing child pornography. Gardner avoided a trial by pleading guilty, which spared him from potential testimony from his underage victims. Each count carries a 30-year term, resulting in the total 90-year sentence. Prosecutors described the crime as among the worst handled by their office, emphasizing how Gardner used his position to exploit children he was supposed to guide and protect. Gardner previously coached at Jump'In Gymnastics in Purvis before moving to Iowa in 2018, where he worked at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute. Several lawsuits are ongoing against Gardner, USA Gymnastics, and Chow’s Gymnastics. These cases allege that the organization failed to adequately investigate claims of misconduct. One lawsuit dismissed SafeSport, a nonprofit aimed at preventing athlete abuse, as a defendant after a court ruled it immune under federal law. Two gymnasts claim they and other preteens and teenagers were sexually abused by Gardner at Chow’s Gymnastics. They allege that prominent coach and gym owner Liang "Chow" Qiao was aware of Gardner's inappropriate conduct, including hugging and kissing girls, while he coached in Mississippi. Court documents reveal that Gardner faced accusations of sexually abusing at least three young individuals, though specific details remain unclear. One of Gardner's former students, Liberty Raines, who joined Jump'In Gymnastics at age 11, described him as charismatic and noted she did not recognize his behavior as abnormal, particularly at the end of practices. She recounted how Gardner would embrace them all and kiss them on the forehead while patting their backs. This incident reignited concerns over whether U.S. gymnastics authorities have done enough to safeguard athletes from sexual abuse by influential coaches.