Coroner: Gymnastics coach found dead in jail took own life

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A coroner says an Indianapolis gymnastics coach who had been facing child pornography and molestation charges when he was found dead in his jail cell took his own life.

Chief Deputy Marion County Coroner Alfarena Ballew said Monday in a statement that 49-year-old Marvin Sharp died from asphyxia due to suffocation. His manner of death is listed as a suicide.

Sharp was found dead Sept. 19 in his Marion County Jail cell. The USA Gymnastics 2010 Coach of the Year was arrested Aug. 24 on four counts of child molestation and three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.

Federal prosecutors later charged Sharp in a superseding indictment with nine counts of producing child pornography since 2002 involving six female students as young as 6 or 7 years old.