The family of a 14-year-old swimmer has taken civil action against her former coach and a school district.
Convicted swim coach Christopher Wheat is already doing time after he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual misconduct and one count of child solicitation. Now the civil case begins.
During a news conference, attorney Jonathan Little held up a girl's swimsuit, saying several people knew but failed to report the abuse.
Little sharply criticized USA Swimming and what he characterized as a system that repeatedly failed to take action against complaints involving inappropriate contact by coaches.
"Sadly my client is not alone. This is way bigger than Penn State. This goes on across the country," said Little, invoking the child sex abuse scandal that has thrown the Penn State community into turmoil this week.
Wheat was the director and head coach of the Lawrence Swim Team, a private club, as well as assistant coach at Lawrence North High School. He was suspended from both positions.
The lawsuit claims Wheat often intimidated the victim by throwing plastic chairs and swim boards during practice. The attorney also claims that his client now engages in self-harming behavior by cutting and burning herself.
The civil action calls for compensation for punitive damages and all attorney fees.
The lawsuit talks about some of the abuse that took place at the Lawrence North pool. It also talks about Wheat texting another coach about almost getting caught by the victim's mother.
The victims attorney provided copies of text messages from Wheat to another coach, reading, "No one knows or suspects a thing although mom almost caught us via text one night" and "I knew you would not turn me in." The reply: "Of course not."
"Until somebody is making these people answer for what they did, what they have covered up, nothing will change. My clients don't want to see this happen to any other young ladies or young men," said Little.
Little said USA Swimming "fosters a culture that harbors pedophiles."
USA Swimming issued this statement late Thursday:
"We have received several press inquiries related to a press conference given by an Indiana attorney announcing the filing of a lawsuit against USA Swimming and Indiana Swimming. At this time, USA Swimming has not been served with a suit so we are not in a position to comment on these claims. However, to the extent that the attorney has claimed that USA Swimming has a culture of protecting pedophiles, that is categorically untrue. There is nothing more important to USA Swimming than the safety and well-being of its 300,000 members. For that reason, the organization has developed one of the most comprehensive Athlete Protection Programs among Olympic Sports."
"In addition, the attorney's allegation that USA Swimming had been warned of sexual abuse by Chris Wheat is also untrue. The first instance that USA Swimming learned about abuse by Chris Wheat was when we were notified of his arrest in September 2009 Upon learning of the arrest, USA Swimming immediately implemented the process to expel and permanently ban Chris Wheat from USA Swimming which was accomplished shortly thereafter in December 2009."
The lawsuit also names the Lawrence Township School District. But a school spokesperson says they will not comment before reviewing the lawsuit.
Meantime, Wheat is serving a 15-year prison sentence with five years suspended. He will spend eight years in prison, and two more in community corrections.
