Gwinnett cheer coach pleads guilty, sentenced in abuse case
Charles Archibald Moore III. Courtesy of Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - A Gwinnett County cheerleading coach has pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving the sexual abuse of a teenage cheerleader, prosecutors said.
What we know:
Charles Archibald Moore III, 33, was sentenced to 25 years, with the first 12 years to be served in prison, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children, invasion of privacy, grooming of a minor and electronically furnishing obscene material to minors.
"This defendant violated the trust he was given as a youth leader," Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. "This is despicable behavior. We pray that the victim and her family can recover and move forward."
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.
During the plea hearing, the victim testified Moore began contacting her on social media when she was 16 years old and requested inappropriate photos in exchange for money and other items.
She also told the court Moore had sexual contact with her at his home in Snellville and at a Barrow County cheerleading facility.
The investigation began in 2024 after the teen reported the abuse to authorities in Walton County.
What's next:
Officials said additional charges tied to incidents in Barrow and Walton counties remain pending.
The case was prosecuted by the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit.