Former Olympian and track coach Conrad Mainwaring has pleaded not guilty to the molestation charges against him that alleged he sexually molested multiple boys while he was employed at a camp in western Massachusetts back in the ‘70s. Judge John Agostini has set Mainwaring’s bail at $200,000 with four conditions: he cannot have contact with any children under 16-years-old, must surrender his passport, make his whereabouts known with probation, and waive rendition.
According to ESPN, a statement released from the office of District Attorney Andrea Harrin stated that the former Olympian was arraigned Tuesday in Berkshire Superior Court on nine counts of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14 and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
Prosecutors alleged that Mainwaring molested campers at Camp Greylock in Becket from 1975 to 1979 while he was employed as a counselor.
D.A. Harrington shared a statement regarding the victims.
“I thank the State Police investigators who continue to work tirelessly on this case,” he said. “We believe that there are many other victims, and we ask them to contact local law enforcement or the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit as we continue to seek justice.”
According to The Associated Press, Mainwaring was arrested last month on a fugitive after a grand jury returned the indictments on Jan. 27. He was brought from California to Massachusetts last week.
An ESPN report in 2019 was investigated by Massachusetts authorities that contained more than 50 allegations of men reporting they were abused by Mainwaring, some of them being at Camp Greylock.
According to The Berkshire Eagle, prosecutor Mega Tesoniero stated in court that the former Olympian used his status to groom the young boys at the camp.
“He would make them believe that through the sexual assault, he was making them into better athletes, stronger as far as mental capabilities, or simply their athletic abilities,” she said.
Mainwaring’s attorney Dean Manuel stated that the longtime coach appeared in court in a wheelchair after a recent hip surgery. Both Mainwaring and attorney Manual declined to make any comment after the hearing.
“These are old allegations from the 1970s,” Manuel said in the court hearing. “He’s entitled to a full and fair trial.”
Investigators have established a dedicated phone line within the Berkshire Detective Unit for any other potential victims and witnesses across the country who have yet to come forward. Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to reach the Berkshire Detective Unit at 413-449-5863.
“We take allegations of adults who abuse their position of trust by preying on youth very seriously and will continue to focus our prosecutorial resources on holding perpetrators of these crimes accountable,” Harrington said.
