Sharp, 49, was arrested in August and was being held for several counts of child molestation.

Katie Carlson, a spokeswoman from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, revealed that he was found in his jail cell dead.

Sharp was found dead on a night when the rest of the gymnastics community was celebrating the 17th annual National Gymnastics Day, an event sponsored by USA Gymnastics.

“A follow up investigation is being conducted by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Marion County coroner’s office.”

Local and federal investigators found thousands of child pornography images in his home and business as they served search warrants, authorities say. The prosecutor’s office says the images depicted both minor boys and girls in sexually explicit poses.

A probable cause affidavit filed with the local charges last month stated Sharp repeatedly fondled or touched a girl he had coached and that the abuse began when she was 12 and continued for about two years.

In an interview with police, Sharp confirmed the photo-shoots but described the photographs as “muscle pictures” and said the student’s mother authorized them, according to the documents. The alleged acts took place at Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy, located at 8070 Georgetown Road in Indianapolis, as well as during an out-of-state trip that the victim and Sharp took together for a gymnastics competition. He was a member of the 2008 women’s Olympic gymnastics team. He had also trained another Olympian, Samantha Peszek, after she returned from the 2008 Summer Olympics.

“I stand by Marvin”, said Gymnastics Academy Coach Michele Callahan, who believed Sharp was innocent of the crime.

The girl told authorities she feared Sharp would “kick her out of the gym or hurt her” if she didn’t do as asked. “The other coaches are wonderful with the kids”. On another occasion, he asked her to spread her legs as he took photos of her. On Sunday, People shared the news about what happened to this gymnastics coach that was accused of child molestation and child pornography.