For Immediate Release November 21, 2007

Contact: Corey Welford/Jessica Venezia 617-679-6522

Gymnastics Coach Indicted, Arrested In Connection With Rape, Indecent Assaults Of Former Gymnasts Second Coach Indicted On Perjury Charges In Connection With His Grand Jury Testimony

CAMBRIDGE – Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s Office informed the public today that a Connecticut man, who has coached gymnastics in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, has been arrested in connection with the rape and indecent assault of one victim and the indecent assault of another victim while they were gymnastics students in the early 1990s. The defendant is currently the president of Five Star Gymnastics Overnight Camp, most recently held in Springfield, as well as the former owner of Olympia Gymnastics in Brookfield, Connecticut.

Steven Infante, age 51, of New Milford, Connecticut, was indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury on Friday on one count of rape, one count of rape of a child, and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14. Upon being informed of an outstanding warrant on those charges, Infante presented himself with counsel to authorities this morning. He will be arraigned later today in Cambridge Superior Courtroom 6A.

A second gymnastics coach, Stephen DiTullio, age 53, of Littleton, was also indicted on Friday on a charge of perjury in connection with his sworn testimony to the grand jury during the course of the investigation. DiTullio was arraigned yesterday in Cambridge Superior Court at which point he was released on personal recognizance.

“We allege that the defendant, Steven Infante, took advantage of his position of authority to exert control over, manipulate, and sexually assault these young vulnerable girls,” District Attorney Leone said. “We also allege that the defendant engaged in a pattern of ‘grooming’ the young victims in an effort to gradually make them more accepting of his escalating, inappropriate, and ultimately criminal sexual contact with them.”

Victim A was attending DiTullio’s gymnastics school, The Gym Nest, in Acton, in the summer of 1990, at the age of 13. (The Gym Nest was later relocated to Stow, Massachusetts, and renamed Five Star Gymnastics.) Infante, aged 34 at the time, was a counselor at the camp. It was at this time that the Commonwealth alleges that the defendant began a pattern of “grooming” this victim and others to become more comfortable with his approaches and excessive physical contact. This alleged grooming over a period of time included gifts, alcohol, excessive flirtatious actions, sexual innuendo, and inappropriate sexual touchings that Infante and others made a part of camp rituals.

In the summer of 1991, Victim A attended Five Star Gymnastics Camp which was owned at the time by Infante, DiTullio, and another owner. During the camp, it is alleged that escalating physical contact occurred between Infante and the victim, along with continued grooming. It is also alleged that the defendant committed his first charged crime (indecent assault and battery on a victim over 14) against Victim A while they attended a sleepover with other gymnasts at DiTullio’s home in Littleton. During the course of the evening, the defendant allegedly committed indecent assault and battery by forcing himself on her sexually. The victim was 14 years-old. The defendant was 35 years-old.

The second alleged crime (rape of a child) occurred in April of1992. Victim A was attending a gymnastics meet in Northborough but was not competing. Infante and the victim allegedly traveled from the meet to the home of DiTullio in Littleton where the Commonwealth alleges that the defendant raped the victim. The victim was 15 years-old. The defendant was 36 years-old.

The third alleged crime (rape) against Victim A occurred between the fall of 1992 and the fall of 1994, when it is alleged that the defendant repeatedly raped Victim A.

A second victim, a then 16-year-old gymnast who was coached by Infante in Connecticut, was allegedly sexually assaulted by Infante, when he forced himself upon her sexually at DiTullio’s home in Littleton in 1993 during another sleepover that was attended by multiple gymnasts. Infante is charged with indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 in connection with this alleged incident.

During the course of the investigation, DiTullio gave sworn testimony to the grand jury. He has been indicted on a charge of perjury in connection with his statements regarding his knowledge surrounding the facts of the investigation.

Infante is currently listed as president of the Five Star Gymnastics Overnight Camp that most recently held its summer camp in Springfield, Massachusetts. DiTullio currently operates the Five Star Gymnastics gym located in Stow, Massachusetts, and is listed as the Director of the Five Star Gymnastics Overnight Camp.

A summary of the charges alleged against Steven Infante are as follows:
DATE DEFENDANT (AGE) CHARGE VICTIM (AGE)

8/91 Steven Infante (35) Indecent A&B > 14 Victim A (14)

4/92 Steven Infante (36) Rape of a Child Victim A (15)

10/92 – 10/94 Steven Infante (36-38) Rape Victim A (16-18)

Summer/93 Steven Infante (37) Indecent A&B >14 Victim B (16)

Members of the public who have questions or who believe that they have information that may be helpful to the investigation can contact the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit at 617-591-7700.

The investigation is ongoing and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office is coordinating with law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions.

These charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by Acton Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Michael Chinman. The victim witness advocate is Theresa Corcoran.

Click Here to read the statement of the case filed with the court in connection with this case.

###