Gymnastics Coach Pleads Guilty to Grooming Minors | St. Louis News

Former gymnastics coach Marco Zomphier, 32, has pleaded guilty to grooming and sexually abusing two underage girls — one as early as 2013 and another in 2021 — in a case that spanned years of legal battles across state and federal courts. After being arrested in 2024 for an incident involving a 13-year-old cheerleader, prosecutors uncovered additional victims, leading to charges including coercion, enticement, and child pornography production — though those latter charges are now dropped in exchange for his guilty plea. Victims and families were in court, calling the admission a long-awaited justice. Sentencing is set for December 2nd, with prosecutors recommending 25 years plus lifetime supervised release. Civil lawsuits are also planned, honoring the survivors’ courage through a grueling legal journey. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/df38344524105276