Former Metro Atlanta Cheer Coach Sentenced to 25 Years for Exploiting Teenager
GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — A 33-year-old former cheerleading coach will spend the next 12 years in prison followed by 13 years of probation after pleading guilty to systematically grooming and sexually abusing a teenage athlete under his care. Charles Archibald Moore III was sentenced on Friday, April 3, 2026, in a case that local prosecutors say represents a profound betrayal of trust.
Moore pleaded guilty to a suite of felony charges, including:
- Sexual Exploitation of Children
- Grooming of a Minor
- Invasion of Privacy
- Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material to Minors
A Pattern of Grooming and Abuse
The investigation into Moore began in 2024 after the victim, then a teenager, disclosed the abuse to authorities in Walton County. During the guilty plea hearing, the victim testified that Moore began targeting her through social media when she was 16 years old.
Prosecutors detailed a predatory exchange where Moore solicited explicit photos from the teen. In return, he provided her with:
- Cash payments
- Vapes
- THC cartridges
The victim testified to multiple sexual encounters, including one at Moore’s home in Snellville and another in the parking lot of a cheerleading gym in Barrow County where Moore was employed as a coach.
“Despicable Behavior”: Impact on Multiple Communities
Moore’s coaching career spanned several high-profile programs across metro Atlanta and surrounding counties. Organizations where he was previously employed include:
- STAR Athletics Cheers and Tumbling (Barrow County)
- Atlanta Jayhawks (Gwinnett County)
- Walnut Grove High School (Walton County)
Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson issued a stern statement following the sentencing. “This defendant violated the trust he was given as a youth leader,” she said. “This is despicable behavior. We pray that the victim and her family can recover and move forward.”
The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office emphasized that this 25-year sentence reflects their commitment to safeguarding young people and ensuring that those in positions of authority who exploit minors are held fully accountable.
