Oregon youth cheer coach arrested on sex abuse charges

An Oregon youth cheer coach was arrested and hit with sex abuse charges on Friday, capping a three-week investigation into an allegation of sex abuse at a local gym.

Police nabbed Anthony Trenkler, 27, after luring him onto a street corner in St. Helens, according to a statement from the St. Helens Police Department. Detectives then executed a search warrant, seizing additional evidence, police said.

Police began investigating the cheer coach Aug. 13 following a report made about Trenkler’s conduct while he was working at Vault Elite in St. Helens, police said. Once the probe began, additional victims were located, police said.

Vault Elite fired Trenkler in August after they learned of the investigation, according to the gym’s Facebook page, and asked parents to attend a meeting Aug. 15 to address concerns.

“Vault Elite has terminated this coach’s contract, and we are fully cooperating with local law enforcement to ensure our athletes are safe,” the gym said. “He will no longer be allowed in our gym and our athlete’s safety remains our top priority. Classes and camps have been canceled until further notice.”

Trenkler was initially hit with a count of sex abuse and two counts of attempted sex abuse, but charges were later expanded to six counts of sex abuse, plus the attempted sex abuse charges, police said.

Police are concerned that there may be additional victims, and are asking anyone with information to come forward.