Trainer at 'Strength in Christ' Gym Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Teen Athletes By Christina Coulter

A Colorado athletic trainer who was supposed to be helping teenage athletes reach their goals instead preyed on them — and now a jury has found him guilty of sexually assaulting the girls he coached.

On Thursday, a Douglas County jury convicted 51-year-old Aaron Thomas Carrado on six counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust as part of a pattern of abuse, according to a news release from the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said the assaults took place between 2019 and 2022, when Carrado worked at the Strength in Christ gym in Parker. The victims, who were 15 and 16 at the time, were athletes he coached.

“The defendant was entrusted to train Olympic-level high school athletes,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Danielle Jaramillo said in a statement. “Instead, he violated and betrayed them. These courageous survivors have shown that no title, no position, and no power can shield predators from justice.”

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District Attorney George Brauchler added: “After using his position as a personal trainer and his fake claims of Christianity to these trusting victims — all while married with children — this gutless faithless predator fled the state. But he could not outrun justice.”

The case began after Carrado’s ex-wife discovered “disturbing” notes and social media messages and alerted authorities, the release stated. He was arrested in Montana in 2022 after fleeing Colorado.

Carrado is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13, and prosecutors said he faces a possible sentence ranging from eight years to life in prison.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.