Climbing Gym Instructor Charged With Sexually Assaulting 14-Year-Old Student

An instructor at a Columbia rock climbing gym has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student, according to the Howard County Police Department.

Michael J. Lyons, 31, of 1037 Brice Road in Rockville, has been charged with one count of sex abuse of a minor, one count of sexual solicitation of a minor, six counts of third-degree sex offenses, three counts of fourth-degree sex offenses and one count of second-degree assault, according to online court records.

Police say the charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between April 2011 and June 2011 at the Earth Treks climbing gym on the 7100 block of Columbia Gateway Drive.

In an email sent to members Wednesday afternoon, Earth Treks management said Lyons, who was arrested at the Timonium location, has since been fired.

The student, who is on the gym’s competitive climbing team, reported that Lyons, the team’s coach, “had engaged in sex acts with her,” police said. After an investigation, police arrested Lyons. He is being held at the Howard County Detention Center in Jessup on $100,000 bond, police said.

Police said Lyons also teaches at other Earth Treks locations in Maryland, as well as for the U.S. National Climbing Team and USA Climbing, the sport’s national governing body.