Gymnastics Coach Arrested on Child Pornography & Gun Charges
A Gymnastics coach and mentor to children was arrested on child pornography and gun charges Sunday morning.
The owners of Cats Gymnastics in Jupiter are shocked about the charges, but based on what sheriff’s detectives found, it appears 66 year old Carl Lechner had a dark side no one knew about.
Lechner, who lives in Lauderdale Lakes, has worked at Cats Gymnastics in Jupiter for two and a half years.
The arrest report says he also owned and operated TAG Gymnastics Gym in Weston and Davie for more than 20 years.
Broward Sheriff’s detectives say they developed information that led them to believe Lechner was advertising and sharing child porn on his home computer from February 2015 through July 2015.
Lechner admitted his interest in child pornography began when he downloaded peer-to-peer software programs to search for pornography involving a child he knew. He would then download more child pornography, deleting it immediately afterward, according to a police report.
Detectives uncovered seven videos on Lechner’s computer, some of which involved a child with an adult male, according to a police report. Lechner said he downloaded software to erase any trace of the pornography, but detectives were still able to locate some files.
While searching Lechner’s residence in Lauderdale Lakes, police found .22 caliber handgun, a .36 caliber handgun, a 7 millimeter rifle and ammo, according to detectives. Lechner had served three years in state prison in North Carolina on drug charges in the past, meaning he can’t own a handgun in Florida.