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Former Cheerleading Coach Erick Kristianson Arrested On Suspicion of Child Sexual Abuse

Erick Kristianson (Full Name: Erick Joseph Kristianson) Faces Felony Charges of Sexual Abuse For Allegedly Molesting Six Girls, According To The Orange County District Attorney’s Office

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ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (May 11, 2023) – A former Orange County cheerleading coach identified as Erick Kristianson has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies for allegedly molesting six girls.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said that the 44-year-old defendant is originally from Antioch, Tennessee. Erick Kristianson was a coach at a competitive cheer club at a high school in Mission Viejo.

Some of the victims were as young as 11 years old. Erick Kristianson is also facing child molestation and child exhibition charges in Florida from his time coaching in Daytona Beach.

He worked as a cheer coach for Magic All-Stars for 6 years from 2002 to 2008. He was also an assistant cheer coach at Trabuco Hills High School.

The allegations against the defendant first came to light in 2022. He allegedly picked up one girl from school and engaged in sexual activity with her until she turned 16.

The defendant was arrested in Fargo, North Dakota last week on a felony warrant in connection with the Orange County case. He is currently being held at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange without bail.

Liability For Orange County Childhood Sexual Abuse Claims

Childhood sexual abuse is far more prevalent than most people realize. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, as many as 20% of women report being the victims of childhood sexual abuse. Competitive cheerleading has a number of high-profile childhood abuse allegations in recent years. Per reporting by Vice, “For years, the U.S. competitive cheer scene has been roiled by allegation after allegation that cheer officials sexually abused minors and then attempted to cover it up.” There are a number of factors that can contribute to sexual abuse in competitive cheerleading.

  • Schools may not perform adequate background checks on teachers and coaches.
  • Schools may fail to properly monitor  students in their care.
  • School officials may turn a blind eye to suspected instances of sexual abuse.

It is illegal for teachers or coaches to have any type of sexual relationship with their minor students. Pursuant to California Penal Code 288, it is a crime for a person to commit any lewd or lascivious act on a child under 16 years of age. This includes touching a child’s body for sexual purposes. Teachers in California are mandated reporters and must report any instances of reasonably suspected sexual misconduct. When a teacher fails to report suspected sexual abuse, they could be charged with a crime.

Depending on the facts of any case, a school could be liable if a child in their care is sexually abused by a school employee. Schools have a legal obligation to properly supervise the children in their care and enforce all rules and regulations necessary for their protection. As outlined in Virginia G. v. ABC Unified School District (1993) 15 Cal. App. 4th 1848, schools can also be liable for the sexual assault of a child by a teacher if supervisors knew (or should have known) about that teacher’s history of sexual misconduct with students. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any instance of sexual abuse.

  • A police report should be made.
  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • School records of the offender should be examined.
  • An experienced sexual abuse attorney should be consulted.

Sexual abuse in schools tends to continue when school officials fail to properly investigate suspicious behavior. Many people are reluctant to report suspicious behavior out of fear of being retaliated against. Any person that is the victim of childhood sexual abuse may have legal recourse through a civil claim. California has recently increased the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims through the Child Victims Act. An Orange County child sexual abuse attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Orange County Childhood Sexual Abuse Claims

We at Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the people who may been the victims of Erick Kristianson. Any person that may have more information about the allegations made by Orange County prosecutors should strongly consider coming forward. There needs to be a thorough investigation into how these alleged instances of abuse could have gone on for so long and in so many different places.

Have you or someone that you care about been the victim of childhood sexual abuse? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of highly experienced child sexual abuse attorneys are here for you. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights and that perpetrators are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we may be able to help. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.

Author

MICHAEL S. CARRILLO, Partner

Michael works on high-profile cases that have garnered national media attention. His practice today focuses on child sexual abuse cases, police misconduct cases, catastrophic injuries and other wrongful death matters. He is a passionate advocate for his clients including the countless child sexual abuse victims he currently represents.