A 61 year-old showjumping star who competed within the 2012 Olympics has denied abusing his underage protégé who claims the horseman’s spouse walked in on them.
Richard Fellers, 61, allegedly pressured his pupil, Maggie Kehring, now 18, right into a sexual relationship when she was 17, after pestering her from the age of 16. The age of consent in Oregon, the place he lives and the place he skilled Kehring.
Kehring, who’s now 18, went to start coaching with Fellers when she was 15, and left her household in California to maneuver in with the showjumper and his spouse Shelly. She claims issues took a darkish flip when she was 16, and he referred to as her professing his love.
‘I get this name and he says. ‘I’ve these emotions for you, it has been increase the previous six months, you’ll be able to’t inform anybody, I am loopy about you,’ Kehring advised CBS News on Friday. ‘I sat in my room and cried the remainder of the day.’
Maggie Kehring has accused her former equestrian coach Richard Fellers, 61, of sexual abuse. He has formally denied these allegations throughout a prison listening to
Fellers competed in two showjumping occasions on the 2012 Olympics, inserting sixth and eighth
Fellers pictured after his arrest in July. He denies 4 counts of sexual abuse
Kehring referred to as Fellers ‘a sociopath’ who used his place as a coach and revered ‘father determine’ to make advances at her when she was a minor.
She had first met Fellers when she was 14 and idolized him. Kehring credited Fellers – who positioned sixth and eighth throughout London 2012 showjumping occasions – for opening up the elite and aggressive sport to her.
She stated that after Fellers confessed his feeling for her when she was 16, he continued to ask her to pursue a sexual relationship along with her, even after she’d as
Though Kehring stored rejecting his provides, she stated she finally felt cornered and stated sure.
‘It should not have occurred,’ Kehring stated. ‘And I had stated ‘No’ earlier than it even began. I had stated ‘No’ at first, I had stated ‘No’ a number of occasions.’
Kehring stated the connection ended when Shelly walked in on them at a Michigan horse present final July.
Fellers was arrested on June 7 in Oregon by the Tualatin Police Division, who had performed a months lengthy investigation into the matter following a tip from The U.S. Middle for SafeSport, a nonprofit targeted on ending all types of abuse in sport.
That they had acquired a number of nameless tip-offs about Fellers’ alleged abuse of Kehring.
Fellers was booked at Washington County Jail and launched on bail, The Chronicle of the Horse reported.
Kehring is pictured at a showjumping occasion in Florida in January 2021
Fellers is pictured after successful the Rolex FEI World Cup leaping last within the Netherlands in 2012
Fellers pictured on the 2012 Olympics in Greenwich Park, London. He got here sixth and eighth in two showjumping occasions.
He was charged with 4 counts of sexual abuse.
Fellers is well-known within the equestrian group for his victory on the 2012 Rolex-FEI World Cup Ultimate driving Fexible and his participation within the London Olympic Video games for Crew USA.
His lawyer, Howard Jacobs, didn’t instantly reply to DailyMail.com’s request for remark.
‘The ability in me has been restored by defending others and making certain that nobody else will likely be scarred by this similar expertise,’ Kehring stated in a press release launched by her attorneys.
‘I’m so grateful for the work the Tualatin Police Division and FBI have carried out on my behalf and on the behalf of others in comparable conditions.’
The U.S. Equestrian Federation issued the next assertion relating to Feller’s arrest.
‘USEF strongly believes that intercourse abuse has no place in sport. Defending athletes from all types of abuse must be the collective concern of our group. USEF urges all contributors to respect the privateness of the sufferer and her household presently.
‘Please be reminded that sexual abuse involving athletes beneath 18 should be reported to the U.S. Middle for SafeSport and the authorities. Let’s stand collectively by supporting victims and survivors of abuse in our sport.’
Fellers and his spouse had been each suspended by the U.S. Middle for SafeSport after the allegations in opposition to him emerged.
Shelly Fellers is interesting the ruling.