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Cheer Moms And Dads
Parents Don't Have Up-to-Date Information
The following are lists of people who are considered ineligible and banned for membership privileges in the United States All Star Federation (USASF) which is the self-imposed governing body of All Stars. The ongoing USA TODAY investigation has reported that there are dozens of USASF members that are not on the list and it omits 74 others who continued working in cheerleading despite charges or convictions for sexual misconduct involving minors.
According to published information in USA TODAY as reported by Marisa Kwiatkowski and Tricia L. Nadolny,
"there are nearly 180 individuals affiliated with cheerleading who have faced charges relating to sexual misconduct involving minors and were not banned by the sport's two governing bodies, USASF and USA Cheer. More than 140 of them – a group that includes coaches, choreographers and others directly tied to the activity – have been convicted, and 74 are registered sex offenders
As of mid-July, the governing bodies of cheer had suspended or banned just 21 individuals, according to public-facing lists meant to warn parents and gym owners about potential threats to children. The lists have since grown to 118 names, and nearly all of the new additions came in the past four weeks from the names provided by USA TODAY.
While some of the individuals USA TODAY identified are serving lengthy prison sentences, many others could walk into a gym and, under USASF’s policies, start coaching kids (and do) as well as own a gym.
USASF requires only coaches who go backstage or in the warmup area at competitions to be members and background checked through its system. Though it mandates gym owners conduct their own screenings and background checks for anyone who interacts with a minor, what businesses do with that information is up to them."
Read full article here: USA TODAY CHEER INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
As of September 24, 2020 the list (below) has not been publicly updated on USASF's website and parents are not able to access the full list, although Jerry Harris has been added. This list also does not include known cases of convictions that parents have notified CheerMAD about.
Another organization, US Center for a Safe Sport, known as "Safe Sport" which is not a governing body of cheer, has a data base of 136 cheer professionals in its database of predators, although it omits 44 people permanently banned. That list can be accessed here: Safe Sport Disciplinary Database
What follows is taken directly from the USASF's website.
SUSPENDED & INELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) is a privilege that can be denied or withdrawn at any time when a person’s conduct is determined to be inconsistent with the best interests of All Star and the athletes it serves. The USASF has reserved the right to publish a list of individuals whose memberships have been suspended or revoked related to Athlete Protection
USASF notes on its website that
"These lists are not intended to be a historical record of members who may have been suspended previously.
The following persons are CURRENTLY SUSPENDED OR INELIGIBLE PENDING APPEAL for membership in the USASF:
Name, State (Last Known)
Status; Reason"
CURRENTLY SUSPENDED OR INELIGIBLE PENDING APPEAL
Albites, Raul: FL
Ineligible Pending Appeal
Member policy violation related to athlete protection
Brown, Shaquille: CA & TX
Ineligible Pending Appeal
Publicly Available Information
Caballero, Blossom: HI
Ineligible Pending Appeal
Member policy violation related to athlete protection
Davis, Tajii: CA
Ineligible Pending Investigation
Member: policy violation related to athlete protection
Harris, Jerry: IL & TX
Ineligible Pending Appeal
Member policy violation related to athlete protection
Hinton, Christopher: NC
Ineligible Pending Appeal
Member policy violation related to athlete protection
Jones, Donald: GA
Ineligible Pending Trial/Finding Verdict
Publicly Available Information
Machado, Royce: HI
Ineligible Pending Appeal
Member policy violation related to athlete protection
McCarthy, Kyle: CA
Ineligible Pending Appeal
Member policy violation related to athlete protection
Williams, Darius J: NC & SC
Ineligible Pending Appeal
Public Records
PERMANENTLY INELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP
The following persons are PERMANENTLY INELIGIBLE for membership in USASF:
Agnew, Scottie: TX
Member policy violation related to athlete protection
Anestis, Christian: KY
Publicly Available Information
Boggs, James R: KY
Publicly Available Information
Despain, Rick: VA
Publicly Available Information
Dunlap, Kale: TX
Publicly Available Information
Fowler, Chase: TX
Publicly Available Information
Gill, Christian: MD
Publicly Avaialble Information
Jones, Benjamin: VA
Publicly Available Information
Lewis Jr., Leonard: WA
Publicly Available Information
McCuien, Brandon: AR
Publicly Available Information
Mendoza, Jeff: WA
Publicly Available Information
Parton, Jacob Alan: NC
Publicly Available Information
Rucker, Curtis: NC
Publicly Available Information
Smith, Jeremiah (Jeremy): FL
Publicly Available Information
Smith, Lee Scott (also goes by Wren Lee Hewit or Lee Hewitt): SC
Publicly Available Information
Valenty, Victor: FL
Publicly Available Information
Survivor Resources:
Many thanks to USA TODAY reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski and Tricia L. Nadolny who broke the story on the abuse in cheer on September 14, 2020: USA TODAY Reports Jerry Harris under investigation for sexual misconduct of a minor. Their investigation is ongoing. Marisa Kwiatkowski's Twitter account (@IndyMarisaK) states:
"We will be continuing to investigate misconduct in cheerleading, and you can help. If you are an athlete, parent, coach, gym owner or someone else with a connection to cheer, we want to hear your story: USA TODAY INVESTIGATION "
If you are a minor and a victim of ONLINE sexual harassment, abuse or sexploitation you should report it directly to the FBI 1-800-CALL-FBI and your local police. If you are a minor and a victim of sexual abuse contact your local authorities, start with calling 911.
Also, the FBI is asking the public to help identify other potential victims of Jerry Harris. The agency is seeking those who were under 18 and asked by Harris to produce or view sexually graphic videos or photos or engage in sexual conduct. FBI Seeks Potential Victims of Jerry Harris