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GASTONIA, NC – A former East Gaston High wrestling coach has been convicted of sex crimes involving students. Gary “Scott” Goins was sentenced to more than 30 years in jail.
“We thank a merciful God for the outcome of this,” says Daryl Tate. He’s the father of one of three wrestlers who say their former coach sexually abused them. “It’s just so… sad when you find out that you were betrayed,” Tate says.
A jury took almost five hours to find Scott Goins guilty of 17 of the 20 charges he faced. Prosecutors say the former wrestling coach touched wrestlers inappropriately and forced them to perform sex acts. They say most of the incidents happened in the late 1990s.
“Very proud of these three young men. It took tremendous bravery from them to come out,” said District Attorney Locke Bell. Bell says he’s glad Goins will go away for a long time. “I would be happy, if he dies in prison,” he said.
Goins maintains his innocence. He showed little emotion as deputies took him into custody. “He’s decided that he will follow God, wherever God leads him,” said Defense Attorney Brent Ratchford.
Ratchford says Goins became a different man when he found God in 2008. “If God should lead him to serve him in prison, that’s what he said he’d do,” Ratchford says.
