Michael Shane Vassar is a 37-year-old former head wrestling coach at Palmer Ridge High School in Colorado who was arrested in September 2026 on a charge of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says its Special Victims Unit investigated allegations involving Vassar and one or more athletes he coached. Vassar was arrested on September 24, 2026.
Investigators say they believe there may be additional victims and are seeking information from people who encountered Vassar through Palmer Ridge or his other work in gyms, private athletic clubs and personal training.
What Is Michael Shane Vassar Accused Of?
Michael Vassar is accused of inappropriate conduct involving one or more athletes he coached while serving as an athletic coach at Palmer Ridge High School.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said it was alerted on May 20, 2026, to a possible sexual assault involving a minor and an adult who occupied a position of trust.
Detectives with the sheriff’s office Investigations Division Special Victims Unit investigated and determined that Vassar allegedly “engaged in inappropriate conduct involving one or more athletes he coached.” Authorities have not publicly disclosed extensive details about the alleged conduct or identified the student or students involved. [El Paso County Sheriff’s Office]
What Is Michael Vassar Charged With?
Vassar was booked into the El Paso County Jail on a charge of:
- Sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.
The charge reflects the allegation that Vassar occupied a position of authority or trust in relation to the minor involved in the case. Vassar’s position as a coach is central to the investigation described by authorities. [El Paso County Sheriff’s Office]
The charge is an allegation, and Vassar is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
When Was Michael Vassar Arrested?
Deputies assigned to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Impact Team arrested Vassar on September 24, 2026, on an arrest warrant obtained as part of the investigation.
He was subsequently booked into the El Paso County Jail. A district court case against him had been filed on September 22. [KRDO]
Local reporting said Vassar was initially being held on a no-bond hold and appeared virtually for an advisement hearing on September 25. [The Gazette]
When Did The Investigation Into Michael Vassar Begin?
The investigation began after the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office received an alert on May 20 about a possible sexual assault involving an adult in a position of trust and a minor.
The case was assigned to detectives with the agency’s Special Victims Unit. According to the sheriff’s office, their investigation led detectives to conclude that Vassar had allegedly engaged in inappropriate conduct involving one or more athletes he coached. [El Paso County Sheriff’s Office]
Who Is Michael Shane Vassar?
Michael Shane Vassar was the head coach of the boys’ and girls’ wrestling programs at Palmer Ridge High School in Monument, Colorado.
Lewis-Palmer School District 38 said Vassar served as head wrestling coach from December 1, 2025, through May 12, 2026.
Vassar was no longer employed by the district when his arrest was announced. [CBS Colorado]
What Did Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Say?
Lewis-Palmer School District 38 said school officials learned about allegations involving a student-athlete after Vassar had already resigned from his position.
According to the district, administrators investigated the incident and reported it to the Department of Human Services. The district said it could not provide additional details because the matter involved a student and former employee.
The district also said it followed its standard hiring procedures when Vassar was hired and encouraged anyone with information relevant to the sheriff’s investigation to contact law enforcement. [CBS Colorado]
Why Are Investigators Looking For Possible Additional Victims?
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office explicitly said detectives believe there could be additional victims.
That concern extends beyond Vassar’s work at Palmer Ridge because investigators learned that he had associations with multiple gyms and athletic organizations in the Colorado Springs area and had offered personal training services online. [El Paso County Sheriff’s Office]
What Is Michael Vassar’s Connection To Crunch Fitness?
During their investigation, detectives learned that Vassar had been associated with the Crunch Fitness location at 1801 South Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs.
Authorities have not alleged that Crunch Fitness itself was involved in criminal activity. The sheriff’s office identified the connection because investigators are attempting to locate other people who may have interacted with Vassar through his athletic and personal-training work. [El Paso County Sheriff’s Office]
What Is Michael Vassar’s Connection To Unbreakable Ministries Gym?
Investigators also identified Vassar as having been associated with Unbreakable Ministries Gym at 124 Delaware Drive.
The sheriff’s office said Vassar had connections to that facility as well as other private sporting and athletic clubs in the Pikes Peak area. He also offered personal training services online. [El Paso County Sheriff’s Office]
How Long Did Michael Vassar Coach At Palmer Ridge?
According to Lewis-Palmer School District 38, Vassar was the boys’ and girls’ head wrestling coach at Palmer Ridge from December 1, 2025, until May 12, 2026.
The district said it learned of the allegations involving a student-athlete after Vassar had resigned. [CBS Colorado]
The sheriff’s office received the report that triggered its investigation on May 20, eight days after the date the district says Vassar’s employment ended.
How Can People Contact Investigators About Michael Vassar?
Because detectives believe there may be additional victims, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has publicly asked people with information to come forward.
Anyone who has information concerning the investigation or believes they may have been victimized by Vassar can contact the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 719-520-7777. [El Paso County Sheriff’s Office]
One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.