Earth Treks instructor indicted on charges of sexually abusing a minor

A Howard County Grand Jury Wednesday, July 20, indicted a 31-year-old former instructor at Earth Treks Climbing Center in Columbia with sexually abusing minor, a 14-year-old female member of the gym's competitive climbing team.

Michael J. Lyons, of Rockville, is accused of having sex with the girl at the Columbia rock-climbing gym between April and June of this year. During this time, Lyons was the head coach of the girls' rock-climbing team..

Police were informed of the alleged abuse by the teen's mother on June 24, and later that day they interviewed the girl. Lyons was arrested at the Earth Treks facility in Timonium three days later, according to charging documents.

When questioned by police on June 27, the day of his arrest, Lyons admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the girl, according to charging documents.

Lyons was also indicted with three counts of committing a third-degree sex offense and sexual solicitation of a minor.

A police investigation of Lyons also lead to the arrest of former Earth Treks instructor Daniel Lloyd Montague, 20, an assistant climbing coach at the Columbia gym who was charged July 7 with four fourth-degree sex offenses.

Lyons is currently being held at the Howard County Detention Center.