SAN ANTONIO — Authorities in Boerne Tuesday detailed charges against a gymnastics instructor they accuse of exposing himself to a child he coached.
Mike Spiller bonded out of jail Tuesday, but Boerne police arrested him again on a second charge involving the same victim. The 74-year-old returned to jail, formally accused of indecency with a child.
Boerne police chief Steve Perez says three local women have so far accused Spiller of sexual misconduct, along with two others in the Houston area.
An accuser first reported Spiller to Boerne police in October. She told investigators Spiller exposed his genitals to her in 2001 or 2002.
Spiller drove summer camp attendees from a local bed and breakfast to the Boerne Gymnastic Center, where he coached. The accuser told police Spiller angled the bus's rearview mirror toward his genitals to expose himself to her.
"The victim says she could see his genitals and told him to stop, but he would not," Perez told reporters.
It's not clear what prompted the woman to report Spiller to police in October, though another woman publicly accused Spiller of misconduct in June.
"That's usually how it happens," Perez said. "One person is courageous enough to come forward and tell their story, and from that... we find out there could be others."
More KENS5.com stories you may like:
- Woman breaking into ex-girlfriend's home shot by new girlfriend, police say
- NTSB releases preliminary report on deadly Dallas air show plane crash
- Chick-fil-A begins selling merchandise for the first time ever
- Recognizing the signs of diabetes and pre-diabetes | Wear The Gown
- Country singer Jake Flint dies just hours after his wedding
Kendall County District Attorney Nicole Bishop added that investigators have "discovered" allegations dating back to 1976 that span "multiple jurisdictions and countries."
Spiller worked as a gymnastics instructor in Texas, New Mexico, California, Hawaii and in Europe. He coached thousands of children over more than five decades.
"We want people to feel safe and know that they're not alone," Bishop said. "This jurisdiction cares, not just about the people who may have been victims in our community, but through the entirety of his 60-year-career."
Spiller coached in Boerne for 30 years, frequently hosting summer camps at the Boerne Gymnastic Center. The facility's owner Monday told KENS 5 it contracted with Spiller but did not employ him.
Perez said the Boerne Gymnastic Center owner's cooperation has been "minimal."
They released a statement to the families that reads:
As you probably now know a former contracted coach, Mike Spiller, has been charged with indecency with a child. We are appalled and heartbroken at the knowledge that someone that we hired to work at BGC has a history of sexual misconduct that we were unaware of. We are learning of the current allegations at the same time as you. We did Federal Background checks multiple times on Mr. Spiller, each time he worked for us, and they all came back as clear. These are many news reports that have their own spin on the story and we would like to clear up some facts. First, I did file a report with Safe Sport in April and I have cooperated fully with the Boerne Police Department. Mr. Spiller has not been at BGC since the incident in April. He is banned from participating in any USAG sanctioned events or clubs. We are a USAG Member Club which means we follow all their Safe Sport policies and reporting requirements. All our employees, contract coaches and volunteers are required to be USAG members and follow the same requirements. You can go to https://usagym.org/pages/education/safesport/ or click on the link on our webpage www.boernegym.com to learn more about how we work with Safe Sport to protect your child. We are supporting the ongoing investigation and encourage anyone who has any information to report it to the Boerne Police Department at 830-249-8654. They are doing a thorough investigation, and we are providing any information they are requesting. Boerne Gymnastics Center will continue to be diligent in our vetting of anyone who has contact with your child while they are involved with us. We are an open-door facility and encourage parents to observe their child and report if they have any concerns. With all that being said, there are still opportunities for people like Mr. Spiller to slip through the cracks and we must be proactive to be protective of your most precious gift, your family. Please feel free to speak to me directly if you have any additional concerns or information.
Spiller coached as recently as May, Perez added.
Boerne authorities are working the FBI and the Texas Rangers, since their work will likely cross jurisdictional borders.
No case is too old for prosecution, Bishop said. There is no statute of limitations for indecency with a child.
Potential victims should call 830-249-8645 or email jvela@boerne-tx.gov and cwalk@boerne-tx.gov.
Spiller is exercising his right to silence, police said.