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Charges: Eden Prairie skating coach sexually assaulted student

Thomas Joseph Incantalupo, 47, of St. Louis Park, faces several sex abuse charges.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - An Eden Prairie figure skating coach faces several sex abuse charges after investigators say he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old student.

Thomas Joseph Incantalupo, 47, of St. Louis Park, was charged Thursday with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

According to the criminal complaint, Incantalupo first began coaching the girl when she was about nine years old. The two traveled around the world for training and competitions.

The complaint states the abuse began in August 2015 when the girl was 14 and they were in Connecticut for training. Investigators believe the abuse continued in April and May of 2016 while they were in Argentina, trips later that year and again in 2017 while in Argentina and Connecticut.

Most recently, according to the complaint, Incantalupo took the girl from the practice rink in Eden Prairie to a hotel and sexually abused her there, returning her to the rink in time for her parents to pick her up. Investigators say Incantalupo committed the acts once a month, from September to December 2017.

Earlier this month, the girl told a friend what was happening. Her parents learned about it as well and they went to the police.

On Tuesday, police had the girl, now 16, wired for sound. When they met at the rink, she told Incantalupo she wanted the abuse to stop. Incantalupo acknowledged the hotel visits and sexual abuse, according to the complaint.

Eden Prairie police then arrested him.

“As a father and a former coach of young women, this conduct, if proven in court, deserves the severest penalty possible,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman. “The trust this young girl, and her parents, put in Mr. Incantalupo was abused and that should never have happened. We will be filing for aggravated circumstances which will allow a judge to hand down a higher sentence if he is convicted.”

Incantalupo is being held in the Hennepin County Jail and is expected to make his first court appearance Friday.

Incantalupo was listed as a coach on the Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club. The club held an event Thursday night, but signs on the doors say it was for skate club members only.

The Club released the following statement Thursday evening.

Upon learning this afternoon of the arrest of Thomas Joseph Incantalupo, the Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club has revoked all coaching privileges of Incantalupo.

The Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club Board of Directors has contacted the appropriate local City of Eden Prairie, and U.S. Figure Skating authorities and will cooperate in the investigation of these allegations.

“We want to be very clear, the protection and safety of our members is paramount and we will take all appropriate actions to accomplish this objective. We want to assure our parents, skaters, and our community that we will do everything possible to support our membership and our skating community at this time.” Joel Papa, President, Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club.

Incantalupo was not an employee of the City of Eden Prairie as the Club is not a City-run organization.

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