A gymnastics coach in Ponchatoula has been arrested after facing allegations of s**ually abusing a minor, leading to his termination from a local gym. The arrest and subsequent developments have raised concerns within the community, especially after it was revealed that the coach had been employed at multiple gyms.
Gymnastics Coach Arrested on S**ual Abuse Charges
Orry Mejia, 42, was arrested on May 1, 2026, and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on multiple charges. According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, he faces two counts of felony s**ual battery, one count of misdemeanor s**ual battery, and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.
The investigation into Mejia began after a mother reported discovering inappropriate text messages between her daughter and Mejia in 2025. At the time, authorities said there was not enough evidence to make an arrest. However, in 2026, the mother returned with additional information, prompting a renewed investigation and Mejia’s eventual arrest.
Gym Terminates Coach Following Arrest
Mejia had worked at North Shore Gymnastics in Ponchatoula from 2010 until August 2024. According to Saundi Lambertson, the owner of North Shore Gymnastics, Mejia was terminated from the gym as soon as the accusations and investigation came to light.
Lambertson confirmed to WWL Louisiana that she acted swiftly, stating, “As soon as a parent brought to my attention that there was inappropriate communication going on, I fired him.”
However, after Mejia was arrested, reports surfaced that he had been hired by another gym, Cypress Pointe Gymnastics (CPG) in Ponchatoula, shortly after his departure from North Shore Gymnastics. According to a parent, Mejia had been coaching at CPG as recently as January 2025, just months before his arrest.
Cypress Pointe Gymnastics Responds
After the arrest became public, WWL Louisiana reached out to Cypress Pointe Gymnastics for comment, but the gym initially declined to respond. However, the gym later posted a statement on its social media page, confirming that Mejia had been terminated immediately after the arrest.
The gym’s statement read, “We have cooperated fully with the investigating authorities and will continue to do so. We understand and share everyone’s concerns and are doing our best to give officials all information at this time. The safety of the children continues to be our priority.”
Mejia Released On Bond
Mejia was released from custody on a $75,000 bond shortly after his arrest. As the case continues, the gym community and parents remain deeply concerned about the safety of their children and the steps gyms take to vet and monitor employees.
The case has raised important questions about how allegations of inappropriate behavior are handled within the sports and recreational industries. Many are calling for greater oversight and more proactive measures to protect children involved in extracurricular activities.
