Apr 1, 2009 6:17 am US/Eastern
Gymnastics Coach Accused Of Giving 14-Year-Old Rum
Port Jeff Cops: Steven Lamensdorf Rewarded Young Student With Bottle For Pulling Off Difficult Maneuver
Reporting
Lou Young
PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Police say a Long Island gymnastics coach was doing more than teaching the uneven bars and balance beam.
He's charged with giving a popular brand of flavored booze to a young athlete. She ended up in the hospital.
The coconut-flavored booze is popular among underage drinkers because it's sweet.
The 14-year-old gymnast drank so much she ended up at the emergency room at St. Charles Hospital in Belle Terre.
On Tuesday her gymnastics coach, 22-year-old Stephen Lamensdorf, was arrested for buying the booze -- allegedly as a reward for the girl's mastery of an especially difficult maneuver. It was a big deal in this community.
"If he knew she was underage then he's guilty of breaking the law and I think it's that simple really," said John Diaz of Middle Village.
Jodie Spinatto, the owner of Spins Gymnastics Academy, said she fired the 22-year-old instructor but feels bad for him. She said he's young and made a mistake. She also said she feels bad for the 14-year-old who received the rum and got so sick.
She wouldn't talk on camera, but did give CBS 2 HD a statement for the record.
"He has said he got pressured into it by being repeatedly asked and thought if I do it this once it will be over and done with," Spinatto said. "He had a momentary, absolutely bizarre lapse in judgment."
That lapse of judgment has the young man facing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor.
No one answered at his home in Mount Sinai on Tuesday night.
But parents told CBS 2 HD they hope the lesson sticks.
"He should've known better, he's the adult," Chris Ghosio said. "We were supposed to be able to set good examples for children and if we can't do that or the teenagers then we can't do that for ourselves."
The gymnastics academy on Tuesday instructed its employees to report all discussions of drinking or substance abuse immediately.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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