Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Gold’s Gym Hired Rapist, Second Victim Says

LAS VEGAS (CN) - A registered sex offender with multiple felony convictions raped a teenager after Gold's Gym assigned him to be her trainer, she claims in court.

JB says she was 16 in February 2013 when Gold's Gym in Las Vegas gave her a membership though it knew she was a minor and could not enter into a legal contract. She says it assigned James Coleman Booker as her personal trainer, knowing he was a felon and convicted sex offender.

Booker had at least 16 prior convictions for crimes, including illegal sex with a minor, kidnapping, assault and battery, larceny, grand larceny, witness tampering, and illegal possession of a firearm, according to the lawsuit.

Booker is on the Nevada Sex Offender Registry , which states he was convicted of third-degree rape in Oregon in 1991.

JB says she had her first training session Booker on Feb. 22, 2013.

"(A)fter the training session, defendant Booker offered to give plaintiff a ride in his car and took her to a dark and hidden location where he raped her in his vehicle," JB says in the complaint.

JB reported the assault the next day and Booker was arrested and charged with sexual assault and attempted sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and was sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison.

The Gold's Gym at 4501 West Lake Meade Blvd. now is named EOS Fitness.

JB accuses First Alliance dba Gold's Gym, EOS Fitness and TRT Holdings of negligent hiring and retention and negligent supervision, and Booker of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She seeks punitive damages and costs.

She is represented in Clark County Court by Liborius Agwara, who was not immediately available for comment Wednesday. Nor were representatives for Gold's Gym.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...