ALLEN, TX – A 47-year-old figure skating coach was arrested last week on charges of indecency with a child and sexual assault after allegations surfaced that he groomed and abused two athletes he trained, according to police documents.
Allen Police Department arrested Benjamin Shroats on Feb. 17 at his residence following an investigation into inappropriate relationships with two athletes, one of which allegedly began while the victim was still a minor, according to arrest affidavits.
Court documents allege that Shroats formed relationships with both victims during their childhood and gradually normalized sexual comments and gestures before the alleged abuse occurred, a process authorities described as grooming.
The first victim told investigators that in May or June of 2020, Shroats intentionally engaged in sexual contact with her while she was a minor, according to the affidavit. She accused him of inappropriate touching on multiple occasions and alleged he discussed being sexually aroused by her.
During a police interview, Shroats admitted to touching the victim’s buttocks several times and said he may have accidentally touched her breast during what he called “horseplay,” the affidavit states. He denied other allegations and claimed all incidents occurred when the victim was an adult, which contradicts the victim’s account.
A second victim told police that Shroats began acting inappropriately toward her in December 2024, making inappropriate comments about her body and touching her during training sessions, according to court documents. Police said he allegedly pressured her into meeting him alone in his vehicle where sexual acts occurred.
The victim told investigators she feared reporting Shroats because he threatened retaliation and warned that both their lives would be ruined if the relationship was revealed, according to the affidavit. Shroats admitted to having a sexual relationship with this victim during his police interview.
Attorney Zeke Fortenberry, representing both alleged victims, said the abuse extended beyond the criminal charges’ timeframe. “She was sexually abused by this coach from 2020 all the way through 2026,” Fortenberry said. “The arrest charge was only for the time that she was a minor.”
Fortenberry argued that Shroats “was using his position as a coach and position of authority to influence and coerce her into these sexual acts.” He added that he would not be surprised if additional victims came forward.
Since at least 2015, Shroats has been affiliated with the Dallas Figure Skating Club, which holds events at the Allen Event Center’s community ice rink and other North Dallas area facilities. The club issued a statement clarifying that it does not hire or supervise coaches, as they work independently with families arranging lessons directly.
“The safety and welfare of children is our top priority,” the Dallas Figure Skating Club stated, adding that anyone with relevant information should contact the Allen Police Department directly.
