A California jury has convicted a former cheerleading coach on multiple felony charges connected to the abuse of young girls enrolled in cheer programs. The verdict concludes a disturbing case that exposed years of alleged misconduct involving minors and raised serious concerns about child safety in youth sports environments.
Jury Finds Coach Guilty on 23 Felony Counts
The defendant, Erick Joseph Kristianson, 46, originally from Antioch, Tennessee, was found guilty on Monday, December 15, in Santa Ana, California. Jurors convicted him of 23 felony counts linked to sexual offenses against 10 victims, some of whom were as young as nine years old at the time of the abuse.
Details of the Charges
According to prosecutors, the convictions include:
- 11 felony counts of committing lewd acts on children under the age of 14
- 4 felony counts involving lewd acts against minors aged 14 and 15
- 6 felony counts of sexual penetration using a foreign object involving minors under 18
- 2 felony counts of sexual penetration by foreign object involving minors under 16
The crimes occurred over several years while Kristianson was involved in youth cheerleading activities, where he allegedly used his position of trust to exploit vulnerable children.
Impact on Youth Sports Safety
The case has renewed calls for stronger background checks, stricter supervision, and improved safeguarding policies within youth sports organizations. Prosecutors emphasized that the verdict delivers justice to the victims and sends a clear warning about accountability in programs involving children.
Kristianson now faces sentencing at a later date, where he could receive a lengthy prison term due to the severity and number of offenses.
