Sian Gardner sentenced to 90 years for filming gymnasts
16 october 2026 в 09:02
Former gymnastics coach Sean Gardner has been sentenced to 90 years in prison for secretly recording young athletes as they undressed and used the restroom in a gym in Mississippi. This was reported by federal prosecutors.
The sentence was handed down on October 15, after Gardner, 39, pleaded guilty to three counts of producing child pornography. According to the Associated Press, his arrest took place in August 2025. District Attorney for Southern Mississippi J.E. Baxter Kruger noted that the sentence sends a clear message: «Those who prey on our children will be found, held accountable, and punished to the fullest extent of the law».
According to the indictment, Gardner recorded gymnasts in the restroom of the gym in Purvis, where he worked as a coach from 2017 to 2018. The investigation began after the U.S. Center for SafeSport received reports of inappropriate behavior by Gardner with underage gymnasts, prompting them to notify law enforcement. A search of his home in Iowa uncovered several images and videos of minors taken with a hidden camera.
Gardner is also facing charges of sexual assault in Iowa, where he worked at the Chow Gymnastics and Dance Institute, known for training Olympic champions. However, the criminal prosecution against him is solely related to the recordings in Mississippi. FBI Special Agent Robert A. Eichhoff stated that Gardner committed horrific and unforgivable acts, betraying the trust that families placed in him.
The sentence was handed down on October 15, after Gardner, 39, pleaded guilty to three counts of producing child pornography. According to the Associated Press, his arrest took place in August 2025. District Attorney for Southern Mississippi J.E. Baxter Kruger noted that the sentence sends a clear message: «Those who prey on our children will be found, held accountable, and punished to the fullest extent of the law».
According to the indictment, Gardner recorded gymnasts in the restroom of the gym in Purvis, where he worked as a coach from 2017 to 2018. The investigation began after the U.S. Center for SafeSport received reports of inappropriate behavior by Gardner with underage gymnasts, prompting them to notify law enforcement. A search of his home in Iowa uncovered several images and videos of minors taken with a hidden camera.
Gardner is also facing charges of sexual assault in Iowa, where he worked at the Chow Gymnastics and Dance Institute, known for training Olympic champions. However, the criminal prosecution against him is solely related to the recordings in Mississippi. FBI Special Agent Robert A. Eichhoff stated that Gardner committed horrific and unforgivable acts, betraying the trust that families placed in him.
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
