Former Georgia cheerleader shares story after coach's guilty plea
Lily Penn speaks with FOX 5 about the abuse she endured from her former cheer Coach Charles Moore III. (FOX5)
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - A former cheerleader is sharing her story of survival after her former coach, Charles Moore III, pleaded guilty this week in Gwinnett County to grooming and sexual exploitation of a minor.
What we know:
Lily Penn, now 19, says her ordeal began when she was a 15-year-old student in Moore's tumbling class.
According to Penn, Moore began communicating with her frequently on Snapchat and made efforts to get close to her family members.
The situation escalated when Moore began sending inappropriate texts and asking Penn to meet him for sexual encounters in his car at the cheer gym.
Despite Penn expressing hesitation and telling him she had a boyfriend, she says Moore became intimate with her.
Dig deeper:
Moore, 33, coached at several cheer organizations across metro Atlanta and a high school in Walton County.
Charles Archibald Moore III. Courtesy of Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office
After pleading guilty, a Gwinnett County judge sentenced Moore to 25 years, with the first 12 years to be served in prison.
Authorities said Moore coached at multiple programs, including STAR Athletics Cheers and Tumbling in Barrow County, Atlanta Jayhawks in Gwinnett County and Walnut Grove High School in Walton County.
What we don't know:
It is unclear if other victims have come forward to investigators since Moore's 2024 arrest.
What they're saying:
Penn testified at Moore's plea hearing this week in Gwinnett County, describing the emotional toll of facing her abuser in court.
"Some days they’d bring him out in the courtroom, and I was just like, I am fine, like I can look at you, I’m not scared of you, whatever," Penn said. "And then other days they’d bring him out and I just like couldn’t help but cry because like how can somebody so close to me do that to me?"
Regarding the guilty plea, Penn said it provided a sense of relief. "Definitely that closure like hearing him say 'Yes, I did' because he knows that he did me wrong," she said. "I'm getting justice for myself and for the people who feel like they can't come forward."
What's next:
Moore still faces additional charges in Barrow and Walton counties.
RELATED:
- Gwinnett cheer coach pleads guilty, sentenced in abuse case
- Attorney: 12-year prison term for Gwinnett cheer coach is 'just'
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from a FOX 5 interview with Lily Penn and prior FOX 5 reporting. This is a FOX 5 original report.