By Morgan Chilson
TOPEKA — A former Salina high school wrestling coach is accused of creating child pornography after secretly recording minors while they showered in a locker room.
Ryan Brungardt, 37, of Salina, is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child — production of child pornography, and one count of attempted production of child pornography, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office for Kansas.
He was a former wrestling coach at Salina Central High School.
A Wichita grand jury returned the indictment Monday, saying Brungardt “used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced” minor victims with the intent of transmitting visual media that he knew would be sent between states and out of the country.
Brungardt is accused of clandestinely using a cellphone to record minors while they showered in a locker room during a wrestling tournament held in Newton in January 2024, the news release said.
If convicted, Brungardt faces 15 to 30 years in prison and fines in excess of $250,000 on each count, according to the news release.
Investigators are also reviewing seized cellphone videos that may have been recorded at wrestling meets in Newton, Hays, Garden City and Salina. Anyone who believes they witnessed crimes or suspicious activity is encouraged to contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 600-8790 or visit www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.
