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The incidents for which Spencer was charged were said to have occurred between 2003 and 2021, according to indictment records provided by the Cabell County Circuit Clerk�����Ƶ�s Office.

Spencer accepted a guilty plea in April to sexual abuse by a custodian, as well as a lesser included offense of sexual abuse by a custodian, according to Judge Chad Lovejoy. Spencer also took a Kennedy plea, meaning he accepted punishment but did not admit guilt, for distribution and exhibiting of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Sentencing

On Tuesday, Lovejoy ordered the maximum sentence for Spencer on each of the charges.

Spencer was ordered to serve 10 to 20 years in prison on the first sexual abuse charge, five to 15 years for the lesser offense of sexual abuse, and not more than 10 years for the last charge, for a maximum sentence of 45 years.

Lovejoy ordered Spencer�����Ƶ�s sentences to be served consecutively. He also ordered that Spencer should serve 50 years of supervised release at the conclusion of his sentences.

According to �����Ƶsistant Prosecuting Attorney Glen Conway, Spencer will serve a minimum of 17 years in the custody of the West Virginia Department of Corrections before he is eligible to see a parole board.

�����Ƶ�We�����Ƶ�re satisfied with Judge Lovejoy�����Ƶ�s sentence. We thought it was appropriate for the circumstances, and for the victim it was a long time coming,�����Ƶ� Conway told the press after the hearing.

Lovejoy says damage done is extensive

Lovejoy said during the hearing, �����Ƶ�I�����Ƶ�ve stated that these crimes are particularly difficult to deal with because they are so emotional, and because by nature, and because the damage that�����Ƶ�s done by them is extensive.�����Ƶ�

Lovejoy pointed out that two of the charges are concerning abuse by a person in a position of trust to a child.

�����Ƶ�The reason I think trust is so important is it�����Ƶ�s obviously a crime upon the victim, most of all, but it�����Ƶ�s also a crime in the community, because the community allowed you to have a position of trust,�����Ƶ� he said.

Spencer apologized for his actions.

Defense attorney Kerry Nessel told the press after the hearing, �����Ƶ�He had a lapse of judgement, and it was a horrible thing, what he had done. He took responsibility for it, and here we are today.�����Ƶ�

Lovejoy said the child pornography itself was �����Ƶ�incredibly destructive.�����Ƶ� He said while he does not doubt Spencer has good qualities, �����Ƶ�you also allowed some of the darker aspects to take over and to violate that trust in very serious ways that have caused, particularly this victim, to have a lifetime of results, and those are from your decisions.�����Ƶ�

Spencer has been made permanently ineligible as a coach with USA Gymnastics and was ordered not to have contact with athletes as of 2023 for misconduct allegations. He will also be placed on the sex offender registry.