Olympic Gymnastics Coach being held in Jail pending Trial on Child Molestation and Porn Charges Commits Suicide in Indianapolis Jail Cell ~ Call Michael A. Haber, Esq. @ 1-888-SHARK-8-1

Marvin was arrested on August 24, 2015 on four (4) State counts of child molestation and three (3) State counts of sexual misconduct with a minor (that’s his mug shot below).  Compounding his woes, on September 14, 2015 federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment charging Marvin with (9) nine counts of producing child pornography, alleging that his unlawful antics began in 2002 and involved six (6) of his female students, some of which were then as young as six (6) years old.

The State charges alleged that Marvin had repeatedly fondled or touched a girl whom he had coached, that the abuse began when she was twelve (12) years old and that it continued for a period of about two (2) years.   The girl claimed that Marvin repeatedly photographed her in a room at his gymnasium and alleged that he fondled her while adjusting her clothing.  The girl reportedly claimed that Marvin “would constantly `fix her underwear” and touch her during the photo sessions”.  The girl reportedly told authorities that she feared that Marvin would “kick her out of the gym or hurt her” if she didn’t do as asked.  

Note that I do not know who the girl is in the picture with Marvin above but I do not believe that she is the “victim”.  

Of course I also don’t know whether that is a genuine “I’m so proud of you” hug or if ole’ Marvin is just copping a cheap feel… but I digress.  Federally, investigators claim to have found thousands of sexually explicit images of minors locked away in safes in Marvin’s Indianapolis home and also at his business, Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy, which also had a photography studio. 

Per Det. Darin Odler, an Indianapolis police officer assigned to an FBI task force on violent crimes against children:  “These minor girls have been identified as former gymnasts that trained at Sharp’s gym and participated in photo shoots with Marvin Sharp.”  

On Saturday, September 19th, 2015 Marvin was found dead in his Indianapolis jail cell from a presumed act of suicide.  Per Marion County Sheriff’s Spokesperson Katie Carlson Marvin was found unresponsive at 8:17 pm on Saturday in his cell at the Marion County Jail.  She indicated that foul play is not suspected but that “a follow up investigation is being conducted by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Marion County Coroner’s Office”.  Seems to me that Marvin must have taken the fact that the National Suicide Prevention Week ran from Sunday, September 6th – 13th, 2015 literally, timing his own demise with precision, but, technically, the whole month of September is covered under the umbrella of Suicide Prevention Month, so…. 

Was Marvin making a statement, was he merely saving himself the agony of being a sex offender in prison or was he just being considerate to the taxpayers who had to foot the costs of his prosecution and almost certain ensuing incarcerative costs?  I obviously don’t know but I do know that it’s hard (if not impossible) to effectively deny allegations of sexual abuse of children when literally thousands of images of your own former underage students were discovered locked inside of safes in both your home and your business.   I also know that if Marvin managed to skate on his State charges (which in and of itself is highly unlikely) then his would also have to be that one (1) in 10,000 cases which comes back as “not guilty” in federal criminal court (also extremely unlikely).  I also know that convicted sex offenders live one (1) of two (2) types of lives in prison:  Either complete seclusion or great, er, popularity….