Gymnastics coach accused of possessing child porn

A St. Charles gymnastics coach was arrested early Wednesday and charged with 10 counts of child pornography possession after a forensic search of his home computer, police said.

Shawn C. Bowlden, 33, was taken into custody without incident about 6:30 a.m. at his house on the 900 block of South Third Street after the search uncovered 10 pornographic images involving children, authorities said.

Bowlden is an hourly coach at St. Charles Gymnastics Academy, which primarily serves children, according to police and one of the academy's owners, Jay Fisher.

Police say there is no evidence suggesting any inappropriate conduct between Bowlden and the gymnasts.

Fisher, who took over the business in February, said Wednesday he was shocked by the coach's arrest.

"He's been very good with the kids, very interactive with the parents," Fisher said. "If this is in fact true, he will be terminated right off the bat."

Investigators searched Bowlden's house and computer after police "received information which gave us probable cause," police spokesman Paul McCurtain said. The information was unrelated to the academy.

"We haven't had any complaints at all stemming from the academy," McCurtain said.

Bowlden's arrest was the culmination of a monthlong investigation involving local police, the Illinois attorney general's office and the Kane County state's attorney's office. Police declined to answer questions about how the images were obtained.

Investigators are asking anyone with additional information about the case to call (630) 443-3732.

Bowlden was being held overnight Wednesday, awaiting morning bond call.