I was contacted by a concerned DFW parent about a registered sex offender whose family operates a swim lesson business out of their home in Irving, Texas. Chris Austin is a former Christian counselor. In 2007, he was convicted of sexual assault of an 18 year-old male patient. Several other victims also came forward. Austin was sentenced to 10 years in prison on two counts of felony sexual assault, but a judge reduced his sentence to seven years’ probation, not concurrently, on each charge. He also must register as a sex offender for life. He also reportedly had charges for possession of child sexual abuse material.
Chris Austin committed the sexual assaults in connection with the “ex-gay” program Renew, which was operated out of Church of Christ South MacArthur in Irving, Texas. One of the victims testified that Austin used “touch therapy” as treatment for recovery from homosexuality. Over the course of a year, these therapy sessions progressed to nude sessions and oral sex.
Chris Austin’s wife Karla and their adult children, along with other family members, operate S&A Swimming in Irving which provides swim lessons for all ages. I am told that they have two residential locations for these lessons. The main location in Irving is the home of registered sex offender Chris Austin. Though Chris reportedly does not teach the lessons himself, he has been observed at the home at the time of these lessons involving children.
A parent states that there are cameras everywhere, and that parents are not allowed to watch their child during the swim lessons. Parents must wait in the car. This parent just recently discovered this disturbing information and believes other S&A Swimming parents are unaware that they are taking their children to a home with a sex offender.
