Former Coach at Prominent U.S. Gymnastics Academy Arrested by FBI Following Longstanding Abuse Allegations | Crime Alert 6AM 08.26.25
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
3.9 • 7.6K Ratings
🗓️ 26 August 2025
⏱️ 6 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A former gymnastics coach has been arrested by the FBI in Iowa—more than three years after being flagged for sexual abuse and suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
An American identified only as Martin D. has been indicted in Germany on espionage charges.
Wyoming authorities are investigating a second fatal shooting involving an F-E Warren Air Force Base airman.
Prosecutors in Utah have announced plans to seek the death penalty in the case of Ryan Michael Bate, accused of killing two police officers during a domestic disturbance.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Crime Alert, I'm John Lemley. A former gymnastics coach has been arrested by the FBI in Iowa, |
| 0:08.0 | more than three years after being flagged for sexual abuse and suspended by the U.S. Center for Safe Sport. |
| 0:15.4 | The coach, Sean Gardner, is accused of producing child pornography. |
| 0:20.0 | Authorities say he clandestinely recorded young |
| 0:22.9 | gymnasts, including children as young as six, with hidden cameras as they changed clothing. |
| 0:29.6 | These materials were discovered during a 2024 investigation triggered by a new victim coming forward. |
| 0:37.0 | Gardner, who worked at West Des Moines' elite |
| 0:39.5 | Chow's gymnastics and previously coached in Mississippi and Louisiana, managed to secure a job |
| 0:46.3 | at a hospital despite being banned from sports in 2022, highlighting gaps in Safe Sports Authority outside athletics. |
| 0:56.1 | This case reopens difficult questions about the effectiveness and transparency of abuse reporting |
| 1:02.1 | systems in youth sports, especially in the shadow of the Larry Nasser scandal. |
| 1:07.4 | Gardner remains in custody and awaits transfer to Mississippi, where he will face |
| 1:12.6 | formal charges. Thanks, John. For the latest, crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com, |
| 1:18.0 | and please join us for our daily podcast, crime stories. More crime and justice news after this. |
| 1:25.1 | Running a business online, for a limited time, GoDaddy is offering a domain and matching Microsoft email for just 81 pence per month for one year. |
| 1:34.4 | Just use promo code UK sale at checkout. |
| 1:37.5 | That's up to 74% savings. |
| 1:40.1 | Visit goaddy.com slash UK sale to choose the domain and matching email that's right for you |
| 1:45.7 | and let people know you mean business. That's go daddy.com slash UK sale for 74% off a domain |
| 1:53.1 | and matching Microsoft email with promo code UK sale. Say-Lend September 7th. New customer purchases only. See terms on site. |
| 2:03.6 | Now with the latest crime and justice breaking news, Crime Online's John Limley. |
| 2:08.5 | At this hour, an American identified only as Martin D. has been indicted in Germany on espionage charges. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 25 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.