BEND, Ore. (AP) - The former co-owner of a Bend gymnastics academy has been found guilty of sexually abusing his former students.
The Bend Bulletin reports (https://bit.ly/1xbcTtF ) Richard Gustafson of Bend was found guilty Friday of 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse, 20 counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and one count of possession of cocaine.
The 49-year-old Gustafson was arrested in January on suspicion of abusing two girls at a New Year’s Eve sleepover at the Acrovision Sports Center.
More allegations of abuse emerged later from other children who had attended sleepovers at the gym. Each victim was female and age 8-10 at the time.
Defense attorney John Kolego calls the investigation of Gustafson a “witch hunt.” But Judge Wells says “the court found it to be anything but.”
Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.
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Information from: The Bulletin, https://www.bendbulletin.com
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