Pleasanton man faces molestation charges Pleasanton man faces molestation charges (November 19, 2004)

Former gym owner to undergo psychiatric evaluation before sentencing
by Teresa C. Brown

A Pleasanton man was scheduled to turn himself into authorities today as he faces child molestation charges occurring at a Fremont gymnastic facility during a three-year period.

Robert Shawler, 39, is expected to surrender to authorities during a hearing held in Hayward.

In September, Shawler pleaded no contest to two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, said Joni Leventis, the Alameda County deputy district attorney who handled the case.

The molestation charges involve four young girls; the oldest was 14 at the time of the incidents.

Once in custody, Shawler will be turned over to the state Department of Corrections, Leventis said.

Shawler will undergo a psychiatric evaluation, which may last up to 90 days, at a Vacaville facility before he will be sentenced in February for the crimes.

Following the evaluation, the Corrections Department will make a recommendation to the judge regarding his sentencing.

While probation may be recommended, given the number of victims involved, Leventis said she believed that was unlikely.

The maximum sentence Shawler faces is six years in prison, she said.

Additionally, he must register indefinitely as a sex offender, receive counseling, provide saliva and blood samples, and pay fines and restitution to his victims.

The alleged abuse occurred between June 2000 and November 2003 at Cal West Gymnastics in Fremont, a business Shawler owned from 2000 until June 2004.

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