Mar 2, 2005 10:56 am US/Central
Accused Gymnastics Coach Denies Abuse
WHEATON, Ill. (AP) ―
A former Aurora gymnastics coach accused of sexually abusing 14 young gymnasts at a gym owned by his family took the stand in his own defense, telling the court he never molested the girls.
Michael Cardamone, 28, is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Prosecutors accuse him of inappropriately touching the girls, ages of 5 and 14 at the time, during stretching exercises and in a private room at the American Institute of Gymnastics, where he coached for nine years.
In court Tuesday, Cardamone said he never spent time alone with a 7-year-old who was the first to go to police in 2002.
He said he recalled touching the girl only twice, once while her father was present to assist her with a move on a piece of gymnastics equipment, and a second time to put a bandage on her hip.
His attorney, Joseph Laraia, disputes claims by the girls that Cardamone fondled and improperly touched them and contends the girls concocted the accounts of abuse based on rumors they heard around the gym.
Laraia also suggested the sexual abuse allegations might be linked to Cardamone's decision in 2002 to split up a group of older gymnasts who had trained and competed together for at least five years, advancing some to a higher level.
Cardamone testified that some of the girls left behind became difficult to coach and said he spent much of his time disciplining them.
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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