A Polk County gymnastics coach is facing 40 additional child pornography charges after investigators initially charged him in January.

  • Youth gymnastics coach charged with child porn possession
  • Deputies: Alexander Katchalov caught with child pornography
  • Katchalov taught at Elite World Gymnastics in Lakeland

Alexander Katchalov, 21, has been charged with another 40 counts of possession of child pornography. He was already charged with 22 counts previously. He is being held at the Polk County Jail with a $5K bond on each of the new 40 counts.  

Katchalov is a member of the Junior Olympics team and a youth coach at Elite World Gymnastics in Lakeland. 

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, additional investgating found more images and videos of child porn in a Dropbox account owned by Katchalov. 

Authorities initially received a tip that Katchalov was downloading child pornography at the gymnastics center that his parents own and operate. 

Officials said Katchalov also taught group and private classes to children as young as 3-years-old -- the same ages as the children he's accused of downloading images of, investigators said. 

The Sheriff's Office said there are no signs that Katchalov sexually abused any of the children at Elite World Gymnastics, but investigators are double checking and speaking to parents about their interactions with Katchalov. 

The Sheriff's Office said Katchalov confessed to downloading child pornography and said he's been doing it since 2011.