Crime & Safety
Updated: Former Swim Club Coach Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse
Rick Curl, who co-founded the Curl-Burke Swim Club, faces up to 15 years in prison.
Former swim coach Rick Curl pleaded guilty to one count of child sex abuse Thursday in Montgomery County Circuit Court, NBC 4 reports.
Charges were brought against Curl in November after a former swim student's allegations of abuse were reported by the Washington Post. The student claimed Curl abused her for five years in the 1980s.
Curl agreed to plead guilty at a hearing earlier this month. According to NBC, Curl coached Olympian Tom Dolan.
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Curl faces up to 15 years in prison. As a result of his guilty plea, Curl will be required to register as a sex offender. NBC 4 states Curl's sentencing is scheduled for May. He has been released on a $50,000 bond.
Curl, who co-founded the Curl-Burke Swim Club, was banned for life by USA Swimming following the allegations. The club, which has multiple locations in Northern Virginia, was later renamed the Nation’s Capital Swim Club.
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The Curl Burke Swim Team was responsible for training Olympic swimmers such as Katie Ledecky.
Related stories:
- Former Swim Club Coach Rick Curl Agrees to Plead Guilty to Child Sex Abuse
- Curl-Burke Swim Club Founder Banned by USA Swimming
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