Cheerleading Abuse Case Raises Questions About Industry Accountability

A new civil lawsuit filed on October 6, 2025 in Metro Atlanta goes beyond the actions of one predator. The plaintiff and their representation are casting a strategic blow at the greater institutions that, they allege, allowed abuse to continue unchecked for years. 

The 122-page complaint, filed by a former cheerleader identified as Jane Doe, alleges a former cheer coach Charles Moore groomed and sexually assaulted her when she was as young as 8 or 9. The lawsuit primarily targets the broader system and culture within the industry. Attorneys argue that this environment enabled a predator to move between public schools and private gyms with “effectively unfettered access” to minors.

The defendant was arrested twice in 2024, first in May by local Loganville police for felony child exploitation and then again a month later by Barrow County Sheriff’s Office on similar charges. Allegations included giving various illegal substances to minors, leveraging team positions as threats, and soliciting explicit images from athletes. 

In addition to the individual, the lawsuit targets two large national organizations, Varsity Brands and USA Cheer, alleging three core failures:

• Failure to institute policies
  • Alleging a lack of formal, adequate policies defining appropriate interactions between adults and minors within the coaching environment.
• Failure to supervise
  • Claiming the organizations allowed a predator unfettered access to young athletes from elementary school on, indicating a systemic lapse in oversight.
• Negligence in hiring
  • Asserting a failure in due diligence and proper vetting, allowing an individual with a propensity and recorded history of misconduct to secure and maintain different coaching positions across multiple facilities and jurisdictions.

The most damaging allegation is potentially that organizational leaders were aware of misconduct but chose to ignore it.

This story isn’t new or unique. It’s part of a national litigation wave using aggressive federal statutes, to expose what plaintiffs argue is a system designed to prioritize profits over protection. Varsity Brands holds the largest amount of power throughout the industry, and sets the precedents from coaching credentials, safety within the sport, competitions, and apparel. Earlier this year, they settled an $82.5 million antitrust lawsuit, facing accusations that its market dominance creates fundamental conflicts of interest within the industry. 

While Varsity Spirit denied the specific allegations of this case, stating it is “outraged that predators allegedly exploited cheerleading programs.” The company highlights recent safety initiatives including a newly formed Safety Council and mandatory background checks. USA Cheer maintains a Restricted & Ineligible List, although it explicitly doesn’t verify allegations independently.

The lawsuit seeks millions in damages. However the primary goal is to force systemic reform in an industry where a coach fired from one coaching job on predatory allegations cannot simple move to another team without consequence.

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