Former area gymnastics coach pleads guilty to sexual assault
LANSING - The former area gymnastics coach who police said fled the state rather than face sexual assault charges accepted a plea agreement this afternoon.
As part of the plea deal, Mikael Frutin, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, with four other counts being dismissed. He'll be sentenced on April 27.
"I'm pleading guilty because I am guilty," Frutin told Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo.
Frutin was originally facing six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. At Frutin's preliminary hearing, prosecutors dismissed those six counts and added the reduced charges.
Former gymnastics instructor charged with sexual assault
Prosecutors said they amended the charges after they received and reviewed additional information and didn't think they could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the crimes were committed with duress or coercion.
Police started investigating Frutin in July 2014 when he was accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old gymnastics student. He fled the state when he became aware of the investigation, police said, and was arrested in September by the U.S. Marshals Service in Los Angeles.
The Lansing State Journal doesn't identify sexual assault victims.
Frutin's plea deal includes a sentence agreement, which set the minimum at no more than three years in prison. The statutory maximum is 15 years in prison. If Jamo sets the minimum sentence at more than three years, Frutin can withdraw his plea.
As part of the plea agreement, Frutin will remain on the state's Sex Offender Registry for life. After his release from prison, he will have to report his address to law enforcement four times each year.
Nicholas Leydorf, Frutin's attorney, declined to comment.
Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter@MattMencarini.
What's next
Mikael Frutin, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and will be sentenced April 27 by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James Jamo.