Gymnastics Instructor Arrested On Molestation Charges

Mooresville police arrested a gymnastics instructor at the Gym Company, on Talbert Pointe Drive, shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday. Police say they’ve charged Phillip Thompson with molesting eleven girls while teaching gymnastics at a Sanford school between July 2006 and January of this year.

Marcia McNeil, the owner of the Gym Company, told Eyewitness News she hired Phillip Thompson just three weeks ago and fired him as soon as he was arrested.

"His reference, his background checked," said McNeil. "There was nothing anywhere."

McNeil said Phillip Thompson worked with 14 girls, all between 6 and 15 years old, at the Gym Company but was never alone with any of them. Mooresville police do not believe Phillip Thompson improperly touched any of his students at the Gym Company. Phillip Thompson is held in the Lee County Jail under a $1 Million bond.