John Wesley Mardis admitted to sexually abusing one of his gymnast students last week, but the owner of Mardis Gymnastics in Pelham will only serve one day of his 12-month sentence.

Mardis pled guilty on Aug. 8 to a charge of second-degree sexual abuse after an investigation by the Pelham Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office determined that he sexually abused a young female student at his facility.

A report by the Pelham Police Department said the incidents occurred between 1998 and 2003.

Mardis’ guilty plea was part of a plea agreement that will allow him to serve only one day of his year-long sentence. He will also be subject to 24 months of supervised probation and he will be required to register as a sex offender in accordance with Alabama State law. Mardis served his sentence on Aug. 15.

In addition to owning the gymnastics school, Mardis also worked as a coach at the facility. The police report also stated that the young girl in question was no longer a student at the facility.

&045;&045; Brandon Gresha