Rick Curl Expected To Plead Guilty To Sex Abuse Charges

Rick Curl, the former swim coach alleged to have had sexual relationship with an underage female swim student in the 1980s, is expected to plead guilty to sex abuse charges, The Gazette reports.

Curl has trained atheletes including Olympic gold medalists and world record breakers. He is the founder of the well-known Curl-Burke Swim Club, which recently changed its name to the Nation’s Capital Swim Club in the wake of the allegations.

Swimmer Kelley Currin came forward with the allegations in an article in The Washington Post. According to the report, the relationship began at North Bethesda's Georgetown Preparatory School in 1983, when Currin was 13 and Curl was 33. The club leased the pool there, according to the report.

Curl last year voluntarily gave up his membership to USA Swimming, the body that governs swimming in the U.S., and was banned from the organization, Patch reported.

Curl is expected to enter a guilty plea during a Feb. 21 court hearing. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

The hearing will allow the opportunity for victim impact statements, The Washington Post reported.