Fifth boy claims sexual abuse by Luling gymnastics coach

June 05--A 10-year-old boy from Kenner is the latest to allege that he was sexually abused by gymnastics trainer Jonathan West.

The report follows four other sexual abuse claims made against the coach late last week in Jefferson Parish, leading to West's arrest on 10 counts of sexual battery and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, Kenner Police Department spokesman Brian McGregor said.

The four previous allegations came from boys aged 10 to 15, with the incidents occurring in 2016 and 2017, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

The agency said an investigation began when one of the children told a relative that he was inappropriately touched by West, who worked as a gymnastics coach at Flipnastics in Luling.

All four boys attended the gym for training, the JPSO said.

McGregor said the 10-year-old who came forward over the weekend was also connected to West through gymnastics, but he couldn't say whether he attended Flipnastics.

West was arrested at a Kenner trampoline park on Thursday. He is being held without bail at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.

This isn't the first time allegations have been brought against West. Court records show that he was accused of aggravated rape in Orleans Parish in 2011, when he was 19. The case was dismissed in August 2011.

A year later, West was accused in a sexual abuse case involving a 3-year-old boy, McGregor said. The case was never prosecuted because of lack of physical evidence, but with the new allegations, the 2012 incident will be reviewed, he said.

McGregor encouraged anyone with complaints to come forward, and he urged parents to be aware of what happens when they place their children in someone else's care.

"Individuals like these always have jobs in a position that give them access to children," McGregor said. "No matter how much you trust them, you need to watch them."

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