Ex-US Olympic gymnastics coach charged with sexual assault, human trafficking

Former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach John Geddert was charged Thursday with two dozen crimes, including sexual assault, human trafficking and running a criminal enterprise, The Associated Press reports.

According to court documents filed in Michigan, Geddert engaged in forced labor and recruiting minors for forced labor and was charged with molesting a minor in 2012.

Geddert was head coach of the “fierce five” gold medal-winning 2012 U.S. women’s Olympic gymnastics team, consisting of Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber. At the time, Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to more than a century in prison for sexually abusing young woman, was the team doctor.

Geddert’s charges come days after his home was searched following new complaints filed against him in connection with the Nassar case.

During the search, police collected at least one box for evidence. They also took four boxes from Twistars USA Gymnastics Club in Dimondale, Mich., the gymnastics training gym Geddert formerly owned and where he and Nassar used to work alongside one another. The Lansing State Journal reported that at least 3 of the 10 incidents of sexual assault Nassar was charged with took place at Twistars.

Geddert maintains he had “zero knowledge” of Nassar’s crimes.

The Grand Ledge Police Department declined to comment.