A jury has found a 36-year-old gymnastics coach guilty of attempted sexual assault by a person in a position of trust in a case involving a teenage female student.
James Curtis Craig III of Englewood was found guilty today following a one-week trial in Arapahoe County District Court, said Casimir Spencer, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.
The jury returned their verdict after a day of deliberation, Spencer said.
The sexual assault happened on Aug. 7, 2009, according to Deputy District Attorney Gary Dawson.
“He abused her trust. He crossed the line,” Dawson told the jury. “She did the right thing and immediately reported the sexual assault.”
Sentencing is set for Jan. 20.
Craig, who is no longer employed by Saddle Rock School of Gymnastics, 5940 S. Gun Club Road, faces a sentence of up to 6 years in the Department of Corrections or sex offender probation, Spencer said.
Craig will also be required to register as a sex offender.
He had worked at the school for two years. School owner Tyler Salazar has previously said he did a criminal background check on Craig before hiring him and was shocked by the incident. The school coaches 400 boys and girls from preschool age to 17.
In September 2001, Craig was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor sex assault, among other charges in Douglas County, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
