According to My San Antonio, a gymnastics coach has been accused of sexually abusing several girls attending summer camp at the Boerne Gymnastics Center located at 105 Stonegate Rd, Boerne, TX 78006.
Recently a victim told police that 74-year-old Michael Spiller had sexually abused her during a summer camp called "Circus Arts for Kids," held at the Boerne Gymnastics Center. The victim was 12-13 years old at the time of the abuse. Since then, several other girls have come forward with similar claims. The allegations include incidents from 2001 until more recent reports made this year.
Spiller was arrested on November 18, 2022. He has been charged with indecency with a child. However, new reports say there were many allegations of sexual misconduct across many different jurisdictions and even some in other countries dating back to 1976. Officials fear there could be more victims out there and urge anyone that has been in contact with the Boerne gymnastics coach to reach out to the Boerne Police Department.
Attorney contributor Anjali Nigam is an experienced sex abuse lawyer representing victims in the state of Texas. Anjali has experience helping victims of sex abuse seek justice through civil lawsuits. Recently he discussed when victims or their parents can file lawsuits if a gymnastics coach sexually abuses their child.
"The gymnastics industry has seen many recent cases of sex abuse, including the high-profile cases involving the US Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Sadly, there have been other incidents of abuse in gymnastics communities around the country. The media has exposed how predators will gravitate toward positions of trust and power, including children's gymnastics coaches."
"In some cases, if a stricter safety plan is put in place, abuse could have been prevented. Gymnastics organizations could be considered negligent if they failed to conduct background checks on all coaching staff or ignored reports of inappropriate misconduct by their staff. The facility can further reduce the risk of accidents by installing security cameras and having enough staff members at all times. Additionally, the state department may not have conducted a proper background check prior to approving a license. When negligence is a factor, gymnastics sex abuse victims may have grounds for a lawsuit. However, sexual abuse cases are complex and victims or their families should seek the assistance of an experienced sex abuse attorney."