Lethbridge police have laid additional charges of sexual assault against a local gymnastics coach. This time, they involve three more children who attended the Lethbridge Gymnastics Academy.
Jamie Ellacott, 33, was first charged on July 12 with sexual assault and sexual interference involving a seven-year-old he was coaching at the north Lethbridge gym.
Police said following further investigation, three additional victims were identified. The young girls, aged 10, 12 and 14, were allegedly assaulted during sessions at the facility in May.
Ellacott was arrested without incident on Aug. 10 and charged with three further counts of sexual assault and sexual interference.
Ellacott was released from custody and scheduled to appear in court on all of his charges on Aug. 31. He is bound by numerous conditions, including no contact with any of the victims or witnesses.
In a July 14 statement posted to the Lethbridge Gymnastics Academy’s Facebook page, owner Andrea Seright said she was “beyond shocked at the news” of the initial charge and expressed her concern and sorrow for everyone involved.
“Jamie has been removed from his coaching duties, as well as his access to the gym and the students as soon as we found out,” the statement continued.
Global News has reached out to the Lethbridge Gymnastics Academy for further comment on the new charges. The owner declined to comment.
The Alberta Gymnastics Federation said it suspended Ellacott after being informed of his arrest last month. He is unable to attend any AGF or Gymnastics Canada events or activities in any capacity.
Scott MacNeil, the parent of a child who he said attended a few sessions at the academy, wanted them out of the gym “right away” after hearing of the initial charge against Ellacott.
He said he wanted to support a local business when first signing up. He said his child was not one of the four alleged victims.
“I have a genuine fear of leaving my daughter with adults I don’t know already,” MacNeil said. “So when things like this happen, there’s no way she’s going to be out of my sight from here on out.”
Several other parents told Global News that LGA was not willing to give refunds for summer camps.
“We are demanding a refund because it has cost parents $300 for our children to be enrolled in a summer camp here,” said single mother Mallory Kristjanson, who is aware of around a dozen parents in the same situation.
“They haven’t returned any of my phone calls. Parents who have (written) very thorough emails challenging their refund policy have not had any response back whatsoever.”
Kristjanson paid for her child’s enrolment in advance and pulled them out before the camp even started once the allegations came to light. She told Global News she is considering legal action.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-328-4444 and reference file 22014303.
-With files from Danica Ferris