A former Rhode Island cheerleading coach and ” team mom” was jailed for apparently molesting a kid “almost daily” nearly a decade back, according to cops. Alyshia Tkacs, 33, was jailed on Friday on five counts of first-degree child molestation and two counts of second-degree child molestation after the victim, now an adult, stepped forward, East Rhode Island Police stated in a declaration.
The arrest came after a months-long investigation into the abuse, which occurred over a two-year period from 2012 to 2014 when the victim was in between 12 and 14 years of age, police officers said.
“The charges stem from an investigation that began last month by members of the East Providence Police Department’s Special Victims Unit,” cops said. “Detectives learned that the victim, who is now an adult, was repeatedly molested by Tkacs over a two year period. The alleged assaults occurred when the victim was 12 to 14 years old.”
Tkacs, who coached for a competitive cheerleading organization, allegedly molested the victim “almost daily” throughout those two years in East Providence and Barrington, the victim told investigators.
Tkacs was a “team mother” at the Superior Cheer All-Stars gym in East Providence when the alleged abuse happened, the former gym owner told WLNE. The center closed in 2018.
“I do know (redacted) did not want Alyshia with (redacted) but later learned (redacted) continued to meet her at a park where Alyshia gave (redacted) gifts,” the gym owner, Dawn Castonguay, said in a statement.
“Never thought it was a molestation thing since they were still hanging out after they both left the gym.”
The Barrington Police Department is performing its own investigation into prospective criminal activities that may have taken place in its jurisdiction.
A grand jury arraigned Tkacs on the seven kid molestation charges. She was arrested at her home in Cranston, authorities said. A judge ruled that she be held without bail. She is set to appear in court next on June 23.
