Former gymnastics coach accused of sexual assault headed to trial

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on December 5, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A former gymnastics coach accused of sexually assaulting several young girls in 2022, is set to stand trial, but not until the end of next year.
Jamie Ellacott, who previously elected to be tried in Court of King’s Bench, will stand trial for two weeks beginning Dec. 9, 2024. Several pre-trial applications are also scheduled to be heard in September.
Ellacott faces four counts each of sexual interference and sexual assault of a person under the age of 16.
The accused was initially charged in July of last year with single counts of sexual assault and sexual interference after police responded to a report that a seven-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted between May and June of 2022 while attending the Lethbridge Gymnastics Academy in the 3200 block of 32 Street North.
Ellacott was released from custody on that matter with numerous conditions including he not have any contact with the child, and not have any contact or communication directly or indirectly with any person under the age of 16 unless in the presence of a responsible adult.
The following August, police reported three more girls, ages 10, 12 and 14, had also been sexually assaulted during sessions at the gym the previous May, and Ellacott was charged again and released on bail with conditions he not have any contact with the girls or witnesses.

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