Image Credit: Bradley County Sheriff’s Office & Cheer Madness Elite – CME Fitness / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
A former cheerleading coach in Cleveland, Tennessee has pleaded guilty to reduced charges following an indictment last year that initially included four felony counts of sexual battery.
David Michael Pendergrass, 40, the former owner of Cheer Madness Elite, accepted a plea agreement on August 8 in Bradley County Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of assault by offensive touching.
The original charges, which included allegations of sexual battery by an authority figure involving minors, stemmed from incidents between 2018 and 2020. According to the indictment, two of the victims were adults and one was a minor.
Judge Sandra Donaghy accepted the plea, which reduced three felony charges to misdemeanors and dropped the fourth. Pendergrass will serve 18 months of probation, pay court costs, and is prohibited from contacting the victims. He will not be required to register as a sex offender.
According to defense attorney Franklin Chancey, Pendergrass did not admit guilt and took the plea to avoid the financial and emotional toll of a prolonged legal battle.
“He did that for the best interest of his family,” Chancey said, adding that Pendergrass has since moved into a new career field.
Cheer Madness Elite closed permanently in June 2023, shortly after Pendergrass’ arrest.
One Response
Wonder what his new line of work will be?