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Utah-based USA Climbing coach charged with exploitation of minors

Investigators said the coach works with youth in a position of trust, some of them the same age as those in the material that was distributed.

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City spectators watch a USA Climbing competition in 2018. A Utah coach with USA Climbing is facing 10 charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. The organization is not connected to the suspected offenses. In a statement, USA Climbing said they are disturbed by the allegations, which do not appear to overlap with his coaching responsibilities, and have placed him on unpaid administrative leave pending the adjudication of the case.

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City spectators watch a USA Climbing competition in 2018. A Utah coach with USA Climbing is facing 10 charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. The organization is not connected to the suspected offenses. In a statement, USA Climbing said they are disturbed by the allegations, which do not appear to overlap with his coaching responsibilities, and have placed him on unpaid administrative leave pending the adjudication of the case.

By  Michael Martin | Fox 13 News
 | April 30, 2026, 10:03 a.m.
| Updated: 12:03 p.m.

A Utah coach with USA Climbing is facing 10 charges of sexual exploitation of a minor following his arrest on Tuesday.

Matthew Maddison, 37, is being held without bail in Summit County.

According to court documents, on March 16, 2025, a social media company filed a CyberTipline report with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an account that uploaded suspected child sexual abuse material. An IP and email address were captured for the reported account and forwarded to the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Investigators say they were able to identify the owner of the account as Matthew Maddison.

On Tuesday, officers executed a residential search warrant at the reported residence. Maddison admitted to investigators owning the reported social media account and email address associated with it.

Read more at fox13now.com.

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By Michael Martin | Fox 13 News