Indianapolis, IN - Shoot 360 Basketball Trainer Shon Bolden Accused of Sexually Abusing Up to 20 Girls

Basketball Trainer Facing 15 Counts Related to Alleged Child Sexual Abuse

Indianapolis Police have arrested a basketball trainer for allegedly inappropriately touching several young girls at Shoot 360, the basketball facility where he worked.

The investigation began in June 2018 when two alleged victims contacted police about inappropriate behavior by 41-year-old Shon Bolden. One victim said that Bolden often fondled her and pushed himself against her when she was training at 360 and under 18 years of age. A 26-year-old woman told police that Bolden when she was around 13 years old, Bolden would frequently fondle her, touch her buttocks, and rub her throat.

Another trainer from Shoot 360 told authorities that when he began working at the facility in April, he noticed that Bolden would often touch girls when instructing them, but not boys. The trainer also gave multiple examples of inappropriate behavior from Bolden towards some of the girls training at the gym.

According to court documents, these incidents date back as far as 2008. Bolden is suspected of abusing as many as 20 girls. In many incidents, he would touch victims and apply pressure to their throats.

Bolden faces a total of 15 charges, including:

• Battery
• Sexual misconduct with a minor
• Strangulation
• Child seduction

26 no-contact orders were issued in this case. No trial date has been set.

Legal Recourse For Victims of Sexual Abuse by Youth Sports Coaches

Jeff Gibson is a former sex crimes prosecutor who now represents survivors of sexual violence in civil court. We’ve asked Jeff to share some input into the legal options available to those who have been sexually assaulted by youth sports coaches:

Sexual predators often place themselves in positions where they’ll have the opportunity to prey on vulnerable victims. These positions often involve authority and trust. Our lawyers have seen many cases involving youth sports coaches sexually abusing their players. The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be held responsible and their victims must get the full support they deserve. Additionally, youth sports organizations, schools, and facilities who enable sexual abuse to occur through negligence must also be held liable for the harm they’ve caused.

Examples of negligence in these types of cases might include inadequate supervision, improper training, failing to run a background check before hiring a new employee, etc. In cases which involve negligence, the victims and their families may have the right to file a lawsuit.

If you or a loved one has been sexually abused by a youth sports coach, you may be wondering how you can find justice. The legal system can help families in your situation find answers and financial support. To learn more about our legal options, consider contacting an experienced school sexual abuse attorney.