Recent cases of abuse by cheer coaches lead to criminal charges, lawsuits
A rash of cheerleading-related abuse cases across the nation in recent weeks has led to multiple criminal charges and questions about what one lawsuit describes as a “culture of misconduct” in the sport.
Where are these cases occurring?
Former Cheer Coach Christopher Sotelo, 32, is out on bond after a court appearance in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday. Sotelo, who coached for the Texas Bandits All-Stars, faces seven counts of recording individuals without their consent.
Prosecutors accuse the coach of hiding a video camera in the restrooms of the cheerleader training gym. Sotelo is seen on video setting up the camera according to court documents, and allegedly recorded video of women, teenagers, and even a 6-year-old girl. Law enforcement is still investigating the case and says there could potentially be more than a hundred victims.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office arrested a cheer coach in Visalia, Calif., on Tuesday after an investigation. Daniel Gurrola, 42, faces multiple felony charges of sexual abuse against a child. He is accused of abusing two different children.
Unbiased. Straight Facts.TM
The National Federation of State High School Associations reports there are approximately 4 million cheerleaders in the U.S., with around 400,000 competing in the high school ranks.
Gurrola was the head cheer coach of the Phoenix Elite All-Star Cheer School. The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the case and has not said whether the children were cheerleaders at the school.
The former coach and owner of Cheer Madness Elite in Cleveland, Tenn., pleaded guilty to three counts of misdemeanor assault by offensive touching, according to a plea agreement.
David Michael Pendergrass, 40, was arrested in June 2023 following an indictment. Two of the original charges involved sexual battery by an authority figure, according to court documents. The alleged incidents with minors took place between 2018 and 2020 involving girls who were clients at the coach’s gym.
Pendergrass, who would have faced up to 8 years in prison if convicted on the original charges, was not required to admit guilt and will serve 18 months of probation in a September plea deal. Cheer Madness Elite was permanently closed in 2023.
Where was the $10 million lawsuit filed?
A $10 million lawsuit filed in Georgia on Monday by a former cheerleader in the Atlanta metro area accuses multiple organizations of perpetuating a “culture of misconduct.” surrounding the actions of former coach Charles Moore.
Moore was arrested in May 2024 on charges that include sexual contact with a minor by a person in a position of trust, sexual exploitation of a minor, providing drugs to a minor and child molestation. The lawsuit names the Walton County School District, Varsity Brands, USA Cheer and two metro Atlanta cheer gyms, among others, for failing to protect the victims or report Moore’s activities to law enforcement.
Attorney Ryan James of Greenville, South Carolina, who is representing the plaintiff, told WXIA in Atlanta that the complaint was filed to force accountability and change, especially with regard to national cheerleading organizations who ignored red flags about Moore’s behavior.
“They’re putting the brand that is competitive cheer before the child,” James said. “Where they’re losing sight is that’s a child, a minor, someone who doesn’t have the capacity to consent. Where were the adults? We know at some point it was brought to folks’ attention that this conduct was going on, it was unacceptable, and by all accounts, nothing was done to stop it.”
Varsity Brands, one of the defendants in the lawsuit, issued a response that said in part, “Varsity Spirit categorically rejects any claim that it enabled such behavior. Athlete safety guides everything we do, and we remain committed to providing a safe, positive environment for all participants. We stand with survivors in their pursuit of justice and are outraged that predators allegedly exploited cheerleading programs to harm children.”
James said the lawsuit lays out “graphic details” of what his clients endured and believes other victims may come forward.
The post Recent cases of abuse by cheer coaches lead to criminal charges, lawsuits appeared first on Straight Arrow News.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
