A popular gymnastics coach in Lakeland was arrested for allegedly having sex with a minor.
Hillsborough County deputies arrested Justin Thomas Henry, 21, on Monday morning at his Brandon home. Henry is a youth gymnastics coach for Elite World Gynmastics in Lakeland.
An arrest affidavit said Henry had sex with a 13-year-old girl and when her mom came into her bedroom, he hid in the closet.
According to the report, the girl said it was consensual.
Deputies haven't said where the two met.
“We are shocked at what we found out today,” said Manager of Elite World Gymnastics, Andrew Muzzarelli. “It was a big disappointment to us that that was someone on our staff. It was very heartbreaking that this could happen to someone at our gym.”
Muzzarelli said he did an extensive background check on Henry that turned up nothing, as he does with every employee in the hiring process.
He also said he does background checks every two years.
However, deputies arrested Henry back in April after they said he picked up three 14-year-old girls from their gated neighborhood in Lakeland.
Investigators said he then took them to the beach and let them drink.
The report said Henry touched one of the girl’s thighs. It also said he asked one of the girls, “when he could be her boyfriend.”
Henry was pulled over and police called the girl's parents.
Henry was released from the Hillsborough County Jail on Wednesday on $7,500 bond.
In addition to the charges he faces from the April incident, he now faces one count of lewd and lascivious battery.