North Texas figure skating coach charged with indecency with a child, records say

A North Texas figure skating coach is facing two charges of indecency with a child, police said.

Allen police arrested 47-year-old skating coach Benjamin Shroats at his home on Wednesday.

Officials said the investigation began on Feb. 15 after a report was filed alleging that Shroats had engaged in inappropriate relationships with two of his athletes, one of which reportedly began when the athlete was a minor.  

During the bond hearing, the judge ordered Shroats to "not coach or teach any figure skating students." Court paperwork did not list an attorney but indicated that Shroats planned to hire his own.

Many articles from recent years list Shroats as a one-time coach of Amber Glenn, a 2026 Olympic Games team event gold medalist from Plano. 

Shroats has been affiliated with the Dallas Figure Skating Club that uses the Allen Event Center's community ice rink as a practice location.

The Dallas Figure Skating Club, a branch of U.S. Figure Skating*, released a statement saying the safety and welfare of children is its top priority.

"We know news like this is upsetting, and we want our families to know we take concerns involving our members and the adult coaches who train them very seriously.  The safety and welfare of children is our top priority," the statement reads. "It's also important to clarify the Club's role. Dallas Figure Skating Club does not hire, employ, or supervise coaches. All coaches who provide private lessons do so as independent coaches, and lesson arrangements are made directly between families and the coach. In addition, the Club does not own, operate, or manage any ice rinks."

Shroats is currently being held at the Collin County Detention Center. His bond has been set at $100,000 for each offense.   

The investigation is ongoing.

*U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States, as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating comprises more than 750 member clubs, collegiate clubs, school-affiliated clubs and more than 1,000 registered Learn to Skate USA programs representing more than 184,200 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States, including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.