Trapeze School Shut Down After Sex Charge

By Prescott Carlson in News on Oct 21, 2008 9:45PM

Looks like future generations of Flying Wallendas will have to go elsewhere. The Winnetka Park District closed down a flying trapeze camp after the owner was charged with sexual exploitation of a child.

39-year-old Julio Gaona is an owner of the Flying Gaonas Gym, a trapeze and circus arts school based in Chicago. The school had been temporarily holding trapeze classes in Hubbard Woods along Green Bay Road in Winnetka since September. Winnetka police allege that Gaona made sexual advances to a 16-year-old girl on October 10 and 11 at the trapeze training facility, also saying that he "had a personal friendship with the family of the victim and he violated that friendship with his conduct." Gaona could face up to a year in prison if found guilty. [MyFox Chicago, WinnetkaTalk]

Photo by kevin.j