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According to the U.S. Center for SafeSportòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Centralized Disciplinary , Spencer was made permanently ineligible as a coach with USA Gymnastics and was directed to not have any contact with athletes as of Oct. 12, 2023, for misconduct allegations including sexual misconduct involving minors, sexual harassment involving minors, abuse of process and physical misconduct.

Russell Prince, a managing partner with Bryan and Price PA, who represents the Bozhiòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Gym Nest, told The Herald-Dispatch when the allegations came out from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the owners of the gym retained him as a sports law attorney who specializes in compliance and risk management and risk mitigation to make sure all systems were in place and appropriate to ensure the athletes were safe.

Prince said Spencer was immediately let go from the gym, and he is no longer affiliated with the business at all.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThe gym was unaware of any of these issues,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Prince said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThe moment that we first got the òòò½ÊÓƵ¦ notice that there was an allegation of misconduct, the gym parted ways with Mr. Spencer immediately.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Prince told The Herald-Dispatch in written statement that his firm has been evaluating all issues surrounding risk management, safety, rule compliance and owner and staff training.

òòò½ÊÓƵœBozhiòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Gym Nest will continue to cooperate with SafeSport and law enforcement in the manner that is needed. The health, safety, and welfare of our athletes and families is all that matters,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Prince said in the statement.

The FBI Pittsburgh Division is currently pursuing an investigation into identifying any other potential victims.

òòò½ÊÓƵœLance Spencer has been a gymnastics coach for the past two decades. It is believed that Spencer utilized his position as a coach to gain access to minor females. There are multiple allegations of Spencer engaging in sexual acts with a minor and inappropriately touching minors under the guise of coaching and/or physical therapy,òòò½ÊÓƵ� the FBI Pittsburgh Division said on its website.

The FBI is asking anyone who may have been victimized by Spencer or has relevant information to the investigation to fill out their online form at .

Individuals under the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian fill out the form on their behalf.

According to the FBI website, all identities of potential victims will be kept confidential, although those who fill out the form may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information. The website said potential victims may be eligible for services, restitution and rights under federal or state law.

According to Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Spears, if a potential victim decides to take their allegations through the court process and press charges, they will be identified in the court of law, although this is not necessary to provide the FBI with additional information that could help its investigation.

Cabell County Sheriff Chuck Zerkle said the investigation into Spencer has been going on for more than a year and started with SafeSport contacting the local FBI office and then the sheriffòòò½ÊÓƵ™s department.

Zerkle said someone came forward with allegations of an incident that occurred when they were a juvenile. Other individuals eventually came forward with their allegations as well.

òòò½ÊÓƵœA lot of times in these cases, this happens to a victim when theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re between 12, 13, 14 years old. They donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t come forward or have the courage to come forward sometimes because of the trauma thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s related until theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re 25, 26 years old,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Spears said.

òòò½ÊÓƵœNot specifically this case, but in these types of cases in general, historically, across the judicial system, usually when one person takes that step forward to say, òòò½ÊÓƵ˜Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve carried this enough internally, and I need to tell someone, I need to either tell someone because itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s eating at me, or I need to tell someone because Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m worried that thereòòò½ÊÓƵ™s other kids that are going through this,òòò½ÊÓƵ™ when that first person comes out, a lot of times that gives enough of a courage boost to others to say, òòò½ÊÓƵ˜If they can do it, I can do it.òòò½ÊÓƵ™òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Spears said, following the surfacing of these allegations against Spencer, the FBI and sheriffòòò½ÊÓƵ™s department hope the form will open the door for people to have the courage to speak up about any potential allegations they may have.

Right now, Zerkle said the case is on the state level, although it may rise to a federal level case if it is found that there are allegations relating to incidents outside of West Virginia.

On Wednesday, Zerkle said the sheriffòòò½ÊÓƵ™s department executed a search warrant at Spenceròòò½ÊÓƵ™s residence and found some electronic devices, CDs and tapes, which it is looking through to see if there is anything relating to the case.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThings from the search warrant can very easily take it to the federal level,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Zerkle said. òòò½ÊÓƵœLetòòò½ÊÓƵ™s just proceed innocent until found guilty.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Spears said due to the sensitivity of the case, following Spenceròòò½ÊÓƵ™s arrest on Wednesday the case has surpassed the magistrate court and is going straight to a grand jury. Spencer is currently being held in Western Regional Jail on a $300,000 cash bond and will appear before Cabell County Circuit Court Judge Paul T. Farrell at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, for a pre-trial hearing.

Spears said the difference between sexual abuse cases and other cases is that it is often more emotional for the victims of these crimes to speak about.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThese are children, young adults, that were taken advantage of from a person of trust, and it devastates the parents, it devastates them. It is imperative that people come forward so we can clear this up,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Zerkle said. òòò½ÊÓƵœAnd then we can try to help these people that come forward with some counseling and some therapy.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Spears said the Cabell County Prosecuting Attorneyòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Office has a complete Victims Advocates Department that assists victims of crime. He said the FBI Pittsburgh Division also has a victim advocates program that can assist potential victims.

Anyone who may have been a victim of sexual assault may also contact the at 1-800-656-4673 or .