Former Superior gymnastics coach sentenced to 25 years for child sex assault
Dec. 21—SUPERIOR — The Douglas County Courtroom was packed Wednesday as former gymnastics coach George Francis Deppa, 50, was sentenced for child sex assault.
The sentence handed down by Judge Kelly Thimm — 25 years initial confinement and 15 years extended supervision — will run concurrently with recent prison terms handed down from federal and Minnesota courts. Deppa was ordered to have no contact with the victims, their families or minors and to remain on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life.
Thimm pointed out that 25 years imprisonment is basically a life sentence for Deppa, who he called a serial rapist. The former coach at Twin Ports Gymnastics has admitted to abusing at least six minors in two states.
Deppa pleaded no contest in Douglas County Court in July to two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age and one count of exposing genitals. A third child sex assault charge was dismissed but read in for sentencing.
Authorities said he sexually touched two teenage students and tried to "make out" with them while they were out for rides in his boat and during sleepovers at his Superior home.
A third Wisconsin victim also came forward after seeing news coverage of his May 2021 arrest, saying Deppa inappropriately touched her during a private coaching session.
Wednesday's sentencing marked an end to court proceedings across three jurisdictions after Deppa agreed to the proposed restitution amount instead of requesting a restitution hearing. He also has 954 days sentence credit for time he has served to date.
Families react
"We're trying to heal, but the more that this drags on, the harder it is not only to move on, but to heal," one survivor told the court, asking for closure.
Her father ticked off the things Deppa's actions took away from his daughter — innocence, trust in others, youth, happiness, laughter — and the things they caused — pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD, a loss of friends, stress, sleepless nights, fears and nightmares.
Her mother spoke of how her daughter went on to coach younger girls in gymnastics because she wanted to protect them.
"We will continue to heal. We have done a lot of healing in these last couple of years, and we will remain resilient and this isn't going to define us," she said, calling Deppa's acts "monstrous."
Deppa used his position of trust as a coach to groom the young gymnasts and their families.
"He took our most cherished possession," another survivor's father told the court. "He groomed our family into thinking we were friends with this monster. ... This was a parent's worst nightmare."
Deppa spoke briefly.
"I want to apologize to everyone," he said, and then talked about the treatment he will be receiving in prison before losing his train of thought.
Joint resolution
Last month, Deppa was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 25 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. In that case, he acknowledged taking photographs while coercing a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual conduct. Prosecutors said Deppa subjected her to "extreme inhumane conditions," routinely drugging the girl before molesting or raping her, from the approximate ages of 8 to 16.
Earlier this month,
he was sentenced to four years in prison in St. Louis County Court
for second- and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Minnesota.
Deppa this summer entered into a global plea agreement to resolve cases across three jurisdictions. Because the federal sentence was written in such a way that it must run concurrent with any other cases, Thimm said, it essentially handcuffed sentencing options at the state level. The Wisconsin sentence, however, could result in more actual prison time, as the state's "truth in sentencing" approach requires the full term to be served, followed by a period of extended supervision specified by the judge. Federal inmates, meanwhile, typically only serve about 85% of their prison terms.
"I am grateful that the court followed the state's recommendation and handed down a significant 25-year prison sentence," said Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf. "The victims and their families have patiently waited for this day and deserve the closure that today's sentencing hopefully brings. They have been brave and resilient throughout these cases, and I am hopeful they are able to put this behind them and continue to heal now that Mr. Deppa will be going to prison."