Coach charge for sexual abuse.

A renowned gymnastics coach has been charged with sexually abusing two children with special needs in her care.

Patricia Hermann, 48, of Schaumburg, Ill., is accused of
the serious assault while on a gymnastics trip last spring.

The two victims made the serious allegations independently after returning from the trip with Schaumburg to Cobb County, Georgia,


Hermann, who has worked with special needs children for more than two decades, has been charged with three counts of sexual battery against a minor and one count of aggravated sexual battery.

Police said they were alerted to a report of physical and sexual abuse that occurred between April 30 and May 3 last year at the Springhill Suites by Marriott in Kennesaw, Georgia.

COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Patricia Hermann, 48, has been charged with sexually abusing two underage gymnasts.
"Apparently when they returned home they independently talked with their parents and, at some point while they were there at the hotel, both girls mentioned to their parents that they had been sexually assaulted," Cobb County Police Sgt. Dana Pierce told ABC7 Chicago.

One of the alleged victims was 13 at the time of the assault, and her mother was too upset to discuss the investigation.

The director for the 2015 USA Gymnastics Special Olympics Championships confirmed Hermann and the Elite Stars team, of whom she is the head coach, participated in the competition on May 2.

Hermann has been teaching neighbor Anna Mieczkowski's 4-year-old daughter, who has Down syndrome, to swim.

ABC 7
Hermann was registered as a coach for Special Olympics Illinois team.
"I can't believe it, I can't believe it. I am 100 percent behind her back,” a shocked Mieczkowski said.

In a statement, Hermann's attorney Steven Glick said: "Patricia Hermann dedicated her life to working with kids with disabilities.

“She treats them as real athletes, not as kids with disabilities and has done this for more than 20 years. She has an impeccable reputation, and I don't believe she's guilty."

Hermann was booked by Cook County authorities, and is likely to be extradited to Georgia as part of the investigation.