Fitness Trainer Found Guilty Again: Shocking Details of 2nd Assault on Family Member Revealed!

A well-known fitness trainer, John Spencer Ellis, has been convicted once again of attempted sexual assault, this time following a retrial. Ellis, 56, was found guilty in a case involving a minor in Rancho Santa Margarita which dates back to 2012. His latest conviction, announced on October 9, 2023, includes a felony charge of attempted sexual penetration by a foreign object.

The victim, who was 17 at the time she reported the incident in November 2018, originally maintained a distant relationship with Ellis, despite her mother encouraging her to bond with him. They would work out together, primarily focusing on their shared interest in martial arts. However, prosecutors stated that what began as normal gym sessions quickly escalated into inappropriate behavior. Ellis reportedly suggested massages and soft tissue work after their workouts, which eventually led to the alleged sexual assaults. Prosecutors detailed incidents where he reached his hands inside the victim's workout shorts and sports bra, and even during a purported chiropractic adjustment.

In a significant turn of events, the victim reached out to Ellis via text in October 2012, demanding that he stop. But she kept quiet about the assaults for several years, fearing retaliation and doubting that her mother would believe her. It wasn't until a visit from her mother in Spain in September 2018 that she felt compelled to speak out. A month later, the victim recorded a phone call confronting Ellis about the assaults, which led to an emotional apology from him. When the victim shared the recording with her mother, Ellis reportedly responded to the confrontation by saying, “At least I didn’t have sex with her.”

After his first conviction in November 2023, Ellis was sentenced to a year in prison. During the trial, jurors acquitted him of a felony count of sexual penetration by a foreign object involving a victim under 18, while two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery were dismissed.

Ellis's upcoming sentencing hearing is set for April 24, 2024. Although he is not expected to face additional prison time, there will be discussions regarding whether he will have to register as a sex offender. Prior to winning a retrial, Ellis had been ordered to register as a sex offender for a decade.

This case raises significant concerns regarding the safety of minors in athletic environments, especially when trust is placed in authority figures like coaches and trainers. It serves as a crucial reminder of the need for vigilance and the importance of communication between parents and their children about boundaries and appropriate behavior.