Testimony begins in ex-coach’s sexual assault trial
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Testimony began Tuesday in the trial of a former gymnastics and dance coach who’s accused of sexually assaulting more than a dozen girls, including some clients at a gym where he worked north of Grand Rapids.
Shannon Guay was arrested in Florida in May 2023 after a woman came forward with allegations against him. He’s standing trial on 22 counts of criminal sexual conduct and one count of kidnapping.
Women detail ex-gymnastics coach’s pattern of abuse
“Not only did we have one victim’s word, not two victim’s words, not three, not four, not five — we have 14 girls that you will hear from,” Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Bartlett said during opening statements Tuesday morning. “They will all relive before you what he has done to them.”
Kent County Sheriff’s Department Detective Mike Tanis was the first witness called to the stand. He testified that the investigation into Guay started in March of last year after a tip was left on the department’s voicemail.
“An initial victim was substantiated and from there we worked different leads, different members to discover a plethora of victims,” he said.
The victims in the case ranged in age from 4 to 15 at the time of the alleged abuse, authorities say. Investigators previously said some were assaulted between 2006 and 2008 while attending what was then Aerials & Baranis north of Grand Rapids, where Guay worked as a coach. The gym is now under new ownership. Other assaults happened elsewhere in Kent County, authorities said.
‘Very uncomfortable’: Sisters detail sexual abuse by ex-coach
Guay’s attorney, Mark Hunting, said urged the jury to be skeptical of the testimony they will hear.
“I think at the end of the case, based on what we know about this case, that you are going to determine that these stories, these statements, these allegations are in fact incredible, unbelievable and fantastic,” Hunting said. “Meaning they cannot be believed.”
He added that while the prosecutor will present images of child sexual abuse material, Guay was not charged with the possession of child porn and it is not up to the jury to determine his guilt of that.
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