Skip to main content

Montgomery Co. detectives seek more possible victims of gymnastics coach accused of sexual contact

Detectives are looking for more possible victims of a gymnastics instructor in Montgomery County, Maryland, who was recently arrested and accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a minor.

CLICK TO EXPAND: Mark Samuel Yellock was a gymnastics coach in Montgomery County, Maryland. (Courtesy Montgomery County Police SVID – Child Abuse Unit)

On July 1, detectives from the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Investigations Division – Child Abuse Unit (SVID) arrested Mark Samuel Yellock, 40, of Northeast D.C.

He had been a coach at Silver Stars Gymnastics and Dynamite Gymnastics, both in Silver Spring. Neither gym was aware of the incidents before being contacted by detectives, according to a news release.

Yellock is known to have coached at other facilities in the area and outside of Montgomery County.

The investigation into Yellock began in August 2020, when someone came forward and revealed that Yellock, who was her gymnastics coach, engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with her. She was a minor at the time.

Yellock has been charged with sex abuse of a minor, second-degree sex offense and four counts of third-degree sex offense.

The police said the abuse happened between 2005 and 2007, and the investigation has uncovered information that suggests there may be multiple victims.

Detectives are urging anyone who believes they have more information, or are a victim, to call the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.

WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report.

Family seeks independent investigation into Loudoun Co. drowning near Potomac River

The mother of 16-year-old Fitz Thomas — whose June 4, 2020, drowning in a creek near the Potomac River prompted scrutiny of why it took so long for first responders from both Virginia and Maryland to locate the teen — is calling for an independent investigation. Members of the Loudoun County's Board of Supervisors were briefed Wednesday on the county's fire and rescue department's progress toward implementing recommendations developed after Thomas drowned in a creek that feeds the Potomac River. During the incident, 911 calls for assistance were received by call centers in both Loudoun County, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland.
Read Next Story