Accused gymnastics coach Cardamone out on bail

A former Aurora gymnastics coach accused of fondling female students has been released from the DuPage County Jail.

The family of 32-year-old Michael Cardamone posted the required $55,000 cash of a $550,000 bond, jail officials confirmed Sunday.

Cardamone has been behind bars in DuPage County since a state appeals court ordered a new trial earlier this year on molestation charges. On Friday, DuPage County Circuit Judge Blanche Hill Fawell set Cardamone's bond at $550,000 after he pleaded not guilty to fondling seven girls at his family's Aurora gym, as well as new perjury charges filed against him two weeks ago.

As a condition of bail, Cardamone will be required to stay at his mother's house in Oswego, and he must have no contact with any unrelated minors. Cardamone has two sons.

Cardamone was convicted in 2005 of fondling seven girls under his tutelage at his family's Aurora gym. The jury acquitted him of charges involving seven other girls.

Last March, the 2nd District Appellate Court overturned Cardamone's conviction and ordered a new trial. In response, prosecutors asked the state high court to intervene. Justices declined.

Cardamone was serving a 20-year prison term at Taylorville Correctional Center. He would have been paroled in February 2016.

In his only prison interview, Cardamone told the Daily Herald last year he is going to keep fighting until his name is cleared.

"There will be no plea deals," he said. "I have showed up every day in this fight to prove my innocence, and I will continue to do that until this whole nightmare and falsehood is put to rest."