Monroe cheerleading coach charged with inappropriate behavior toward minors

MONROE, Michigan – A Monroe High School cheerleading coach has resigned amid an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior toward a minor.

The unnamed cheerleading coach resigned due to the allegations, Monroe Public Schools said in a statement on the situation on Thursday.

The allegations began as rumors in the fall and were investigated by the district and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, but no credible evidence was found, the district said.

A second investigation involving the sheriff’s office, county and child welfare services was conducted later that year after rumors surfaced again, but again no credible evidence was found, the county said.

On June 7, Monroe High School administrators received “evidence that the rumors may be true,” the statement said. The coach was placed on paid administrative leave and the sheriff’s office was contacted.

“Student welfare is our district’s highest priority and concerns of this nature are taken very seriously. Our high school administration has taken the appropriate steps each time rumors have surfaced and has conducted thorough investigations along with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office,” Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Shaw said in the statement. “In each case, until the most recent case, there was no supporting evidence.”

The exact nature of the evidence in the latest case has not been disclosed.

“People want all the information before the investigation is complete and jump to conclusions without knowing all the facts or information,” Shaw was quoted as saying in the statement. “I ask the community to give the sheriff’s office time to complete the investigation. These matters take time.”

According to the statement, the high school’s other cheerleading coach has also “left the program,” and Shaw said both coaching positions were filled following the resignations, leaving an entirely new cheerleading team at the high school.

“Due to the sensitive circumstances of this situation involving a minor, there will be no further comment from Monroe Public Schools on this matter,” Shaw said.

The district did not say whether the allegations were against a student or a member of the cheerleading team.

“The case remains under investigation,” said Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough. “Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Monroe County District Attorney for review.”

The district’s full statement can be found below and at this link: