Ex-employer voiced concerns about coach
The Sarver man accused of molesting an underage gymnastics student at three training facilities in Butler and Allegheny counties exhibited an escalating pattern of unprofessional and troubling behavior, one of his former employers said Wednesday.
Keith R. Callen, 45, of 117 Sarver Road has been charged with sexual assault by a sports official, volunteer or employee of nonprofit or not-for-profit organization, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and indecent assault.
The charges were filed April 26 in an Allegheny County district court by state police from Butler. The charges come amid allegations by a student that Callen improperly touched her on numerous occasions and had sex with her twice.
The student, identified in court documents as “Victim 1,” told investigators that Callen began coaching her when she was 12 years old at Jewart’s Gymnastics in Hampton Township, Allegheny County.
Elaine Jewart, the owner of Jewart’s Gymnastics, said Callen worked part-time as a gymnastics instructor there for two or three years. During that time Callen’s behavior escalated from flouting the gym’s dress code to violating the business’ social media policies for coaches and students. At one point, Jewart said, Callen invited a female student to drive a new truck he had bought.
She said the gym’s major concern at that point was how unpredictable Callen’s behavior was, and how it might be sewing discontent among the students by showing favoritism. “He put us in a defensive posture,” Jewart said. “What was he doing; what was coming next and where was this going? No one had ever done this before.”