HOUSTON – A gymnastics coach is accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage employee who worked with him at a gym in the Woodlands.
Morgan Bennett, 22, is charged with sexual assault of a child.
According to the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office, Morgan was working as a children's gymnastics coach at Maximum Athletics on FM 2978 when he engaged in sexual activity multiple times with an employee who is a minor. Authorities say they do not believe that employee was the only victim.
Derrick Atherton, the owner of Maximum Athletic Center, told KPRC that law enforcement approached him about the allegations in February. Following a brief internal investigation, Atherton said he fired Bennett. He said the other employee later quit.
Bennett worked at the gym for about a year and a half and had passed a background check, according to Atherton.
"Safety will always be first and of utmost importance to us," Atherton said in an interview with KPRC. "We do understand that this is very serious and misconduct that's not tolerated by our program at all and we'd never want kids exposed to any of this."
Texas state law states that a person must be 17 years of age or older to consent to sexual intercourse.
Bennett was arrested in Spring and booked into the Harris County Jail. His bond was set at $10,000.
Parents of students at Maximum Athletic Center received an email Thursday morning that read, in part: "As some of you may have seen on the news, one of our former employees engaged in misconduct with another employee.  This misconduct did not occur on gym premises or on company time.  As soon as it was brought to the attention of the management of Maximum Athletic Center, an internal investigation was conducted and  Morgan Bennett was released immediately." Â
Anyone with information on this case, or knows any more possible victims, is encouraged to contact the Pct 3 Constable's Office at 936-538-3414.