Park City - A USA Climbing strength-and-conditioning coach, 37-year-old Matthew Maddison, was arrested April 28 and is facing 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in Summit County. He was booked into the Summit County Jail and is being held without bail. Authorities say investigators found a large amount of alleged child sexual abuse material on electronic devices seized during a search, and that the probe remains active.
Investigation timeline
The case began after a social media company filed a CyberTipline report with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on March 16, 2025, alleging that an account had uploaded suspected child sexual abuse material, according to FOX13. IP and email information associated with the account were sent to the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which then sought warrants and court orders. Investigators say those steps led them to identify the account owner as Maddison.
What detectives say they found
Agents executed a residential search warrant on April 28 and seized electronic devices that detectives say contained illicit material. Court paperwork quoted by KSL alleges Maddison distributed more than 30 files. The affidavit described in local reporting also details messages in which he discussed being aroused by prepubescent children, language investigators cited in their probable-cause filing. Maddison is reported to have admitted owning the account and the associated email address when questioned at the scene.
His role with USA Climbing
Maddison is identified by USA Climbing as a strength-and-conditioning coach and the speed team manager, a role that puts him in regular contact with youth athletes. USA Climbing’s website shows he led a Salt Lake City speed training camp in February 2024 that included Olympic-level competitors, underscoring how his duties involved travel and work with younger team members. The position routinely involves mentoring and traveling with national-team athletes.
USA Climbing's response
In a statement reported by FOX13, USA Climbing said it placed Maddison on unpaid administrative leave and that the charges "appear to be unrelated to his coaching responsibilities." The federation added that athlete safety is its highest priority and that it is cooperating with law enforcement. USA Climbing said it had no further comment at the time of the report.
Legal implications
Maddison faces 10 counts that local outlets describe as second-degree felonies under Utah’s sexual exploitation statute. The law treats possession or distribution of child sexual abuse material as a second-degree felony and counts separate depictions as separate offenses. The statute text and recent amendments are published by the Utah Legislature. Local court filings also show prosecutors asked that no bail be set, citing concerns about public safety and flight risk, and reporters note Maddison remains held without bond.
What happens next
The case remains pending in Summit County and will move through arraignment and preliminary proceedings as investigators and prosecutors develop evidence. The Utah Attorney General's Office declined to comment about the individual's employment to some outlets, according to KSL. Authorities encourage anyone with tips or relevant footage to contact the Utah ICAC tip line that handled the original referral.
Why it matters
Allegations against someone who worked with national-team athletes raise questions about how governing bodies and platforms detect and report suspected abuse. USA Climbing maintains policies requiring background checks and SafeSport training, which are detailed in publicly posted background-check and SafeSport policy documents. Arrests like this often prompt calls for greater transparency while law enforcement secures evidence and protects potential victims as the case moves forward.
