A former climbing coach at Earth Treks in Columbia who pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl could spend another three years behind bars.
Michael J. Lyons, a 32-year-old from Rockville who was the head coach of Earth Treks' competitive climbing team, was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison with all but four years of that sentence suspended. He was given credit for the 221 days he already served in jail while awaiting court hearings.
Lyons pleaded guilty in November to one count of sexual abuse of a minor, a charge that comes because he had temporary care, responsibility or supervision over the girl due to his role as her coach.
He was arrested in June, accused of having sexual contact with the girl between April and June 2011, including sexual intercourse with her in a closet at the Columbia gym during a team sleepover and on a team trip to Massachusetts.
Howard County Circuit Court Judge Louis A. Becker III also sentenced Lyons to five years of probation upon his release. He cannot have any contact with the victim, nor can he enter an Earth Treks store, have any unsupervised contact with minors, or coach or teach anyone under the age of 18. He must also undergo sex offender and psychological treatment.
Howard County Assistant State's Attorney Susan Weinstein had asked for a 15-year sentence with all but eight years suspended. Lyons' public defender, Mary Pizzo, wanted her client's sentence reduced to the time served or 18 months in jail, rather than a prison.
Becker said Lyons exploited the girl's willingness to enter a sexual relationship with him. The law protects vulnerable minors, regardless of issues of consent, he said.
"It's particularly reprehensible that the exploitation is done by someone in trust and responsibility of a minor," he said.
But the judge also noted that Lyons had led a largely positive life and had not been deemed a threat to repeat his offense.
"I'm really reasonably convinced that he is a very low risk for any future sexual activity of this nature," Becker said.
Lyons was one of two former Earth Treks climbing coaches charged last year with having sexual contact with a minor. Daniel Lloyd Montague, 20, of Fulton, pleaded guilty in December to one count of committing an unnatural or perverted practice for receiving oral sex. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail, with all of that time suspended.
The victim in both cases is the same girl, who has since turned 15, according to court documents. The Columbia Flier does not identify victims of sex crimes.