FBI arrest leads to maximum 90-year sentence for gymnastics coach who recorded minors at Mississippi gym
Former youth gymnastics coach Sean Gardner was sentenced to the maximum 90 years in prison after pleading guilty to three federal charges of producing child sexual abuse material. He secretly recorded young gymnasts in a Mississippi gym, adding to concerns about how athletes are protected from abuse.
Gardner, 39, received 30 years for each charge. He admitted placing a hidden camera in a Purvis gym bathroom between December 2017 and April 2018; investigators found videos showing at least 10 minors naked or undressing on his computers years later. Separate allegations involving gymnasts in Iowa have not led to charges, and lawsuits involving Gardner, USA Gymnastics and Chow’s Gymnastics remain ongoing.
- Sean Gardner received the maximum 90-year sentence.
- He pleaded guilty to three federal production charges.
- Iowa allegations and related lawsuits remain unresolved.
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Youth gymnastics takes place in clubs where children train under coaches and may use shared changing or bathroom areas. Adults who work with young athletes are expected to respect their privacy and keep them safe from abuse.
Sean Gardner was a coach at a gym in Purvis, Mississippi, and USA Gymnastics is the national organisation for the sport in the United States. The case raises questions about how gyms and sports bodies protect children, while separate allegations and civil lawsuits remain unresolved.