Dec 23, 2008 11:19 am US/Central
Former Aurora Gymnastics Coach Faces New Charges
WHEATON (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
A former Aurora gymnastics coach whose 2005 convictions for molesting seven young students were tossed out on appeal has been charged with perjuring himself during court testimony stemming from that case.
Michael Cardamone already was facing a retrial on charges he sexually abused the female gymnasts when a DuPage County grand jury indicted him last week on new felony perjury charges, according to court records.
Prosecutors and defense attorney Joseph Laraia declined comment Monday as the 31-year-old Cardamone made his first court appearance since his sexual abuse convictions were overturned earlier this year.
If convicted of the new charges, Cardamone faces a maximum 5-year prison term.
Cardamone's sister, Alysha Millard, ripped the new charge as a "smokescreen" designed to obscure the fact that his original molestation convictions were thrown out.
"This seems to be a smokescreen to avoid focusing on why we¹re really here," she said.
Cardamone was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted in March 2005 of surreptitiously fondling seven young gymnasts during lessons at his family¹s Aurora gym, though jurors acquitted him of molesting seven other young students.
He also was sentenced to three years in prison for harassing a witness by calling police as he left a court hearing and falsely reporting that a parent of one of his accusers appeared to be driving drunk. He testified during both of his cases -- though a law enforcement source said the new perjury charges stem from his testimony in the harassment case.
Prosecutors didn't address the perjury charges Monday, but opposed an attempt by Cardamone's attorneys to win his release on bond until he stands trial.
Judge Blanche Hill Fawell delayed the bond hearing until Jan. 2.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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