In a courtroom in Pocatello, Idaho, a former MMA coach’s dark secrets finally caught up with him.
Maxie Riddle, 39, once a respected figure in the local fighting community, was sentenced to 34 years in prison on September 15, 2025.
He had pleaded guilty to lewd conduct with a minor, marking the end of a long investigation into his abuse of teenage girls.
Riddle wasn’t just any coach; he founded Phantom MMA & Fitness in Pocatello and worked at a foster home, positions that gave him easy access to vulnerable young people.
The case began unraveling back in 2020 when staff at East Idaho Youth Home LLC in Idaho Falls filed a police report.
They suspected sexual abuse involving a 14-year-old resident and Riddle, who was a former employee there.
The girl bravely came forward, detailing five horrific incidents where Riddle assaulted her.
Some incidents occurred right inside the group home, while others took place outside, such as in his car.
She described how he violated rules by being alone with her in her room and taking her out unsupervised, even giving her vaping materials against policy.
This led to Riddle’s arrest in April 2024 in Bonneville County, where he faced two felony counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16.
As News of the Charges Spread, More Victims Came Forward
In Bingham County, two separate cases emerged from events in 2018. The first victim, just 15 at the time, told police she had sex with Riddle after he pursued her.
She even sent him a nude photo when he asked for it. Their encounters happened almost daily from November 2018 to March 2019 at his apartment in Shelley.
Shockingly, Riddle admitted to some of this back in 2019, but no charges were filed at the time.
Police later found exploitative images on his devices and learned he destroyed evidence, like an orange morph-suit he wore during one assault.
For this, he was charged with two counts of lewd conduct, sexual exploitation of a child, and destruction of evidence.
The second Bingham victim was 17 when Riddle assaulted her that same summer. She knew him as her boxing instructor after meeting him while she worked at Claire’s.
He offered to train her, invited her to his garage, and then to his apartment for water.
There, he pushed her against a wall and assaulted her despite her saying no. This led to a charge of forcible penetration by use of a foreign object.
On June 20, 2024, Riddle took a non-binding plea deal to try to limit the damage.
In exchange for pleading guilty to one count of lewd conduct in Bonneville County, the state dismissed the second count there.
The deal also resolved the Bingham cases: he pleaded guilty to one charge of lewd conduct in the first case, with the rest dismissed, and the entire second case was dropped.
Prosecutors recommended a nine-year fixed term, plus 16 years indeterminate, to run concurrently across counties.
But at the sentencing hearing before District Judge Dane Watkins Jr., things didn’t go as Riddle hoped.
The judge saw the gravity of the crimes preying on vulnerable teens in positions of trust. He handed down nine years fixed and 25 years indeterminate, totaling 34 years.
Riddle must also pay $5,000 in compensatory fines and $15,000 in criminal fines.
Watkins pointed out that Riddle would be in his mid-70s before there would be any chance of release, stressing the need to protect society.
He hoped Riddle could use his time inside productively, maybe even turning his life around.
The courtroom heard powerful words from the original victim, now an adult. She looked Riddle in the eye and said,
“You did not destroy me. I’m still here. I’m still standing. I will not stay silent,”
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She called him a predator who targeted multiple girls, not just someone who made a mistake. She thanked the detective who believed her and fought for justice.
Prosecutor Jarrod Hurlbert argued Riddle was a high risk to reoffend, focusing only on himself with no real remorse. He hinted at even more possible victims out there.
Riddle’s lawyer, Serhiy Stavynskyy, pushed back, saying his client had shown remorse, pleaded guilty early, and was in treatment to change.
Riddle himself apologized to the court, admitting he needed punishment.
Judge Watkins praised the victim’s courage for speaking out in front of her abuser. He acknowledged the unseen battles she would face, the ongoing pain from what Riddle did.
He told her-:
“When you’re discouraged and you’re suffering from those things that this individual caused you, just remind yourself of your courage in coming to court today and speaking directly in the presence of the offender,”
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The story doesn’t end with the sentencing. The victim has filed a lawsuit against East Idaho Youth Home, alleging that it failed to protect her.
She accuses them of not training staff properly, ignoring camera footage, and skipping background checks on Riddle, who had been fired from Skyline High School for similar issues with minors.
She’s also suing state agencies, such as the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, for not conducting investigations.
The suit seeks damages for her physical injuries, emotional trauma, and future care. A jury trial is set for June 2026.
Riddle still faces sentencing in the Bingham County case on October 1, 2025, before District Judge Stevan Thompson at 3:30 p.m.
While he’s presumed innocent until all is resolved, this case highlights how predators can hide in trusted roles, such as coaching and caregiving.
The victims’ bravery in coming forward has brought some measure of justice, but the healing process is just beginning.
