A Cleveland, Tennessee, coach and owner of a local cheerleading school has been charged with four felony counts of sexual battery involving four female alleged victims. Two of the counts involve a girl between 13 and 18 years old, according to court documents and officials.
David Michael Pendergrass is charged with two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure involving an underage girl in incidents that allegedly happened between Oct. 7, 2018, and Oct. 7, 2020. The indictment alleges Pendergrass had supervisory or disciplinary power over the girl through his occupation.
Pendergrass is a coach and owner of Cheer Madness Elite on Old Bates Pike, in Cleveland, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Paul Allen said Thursday in a phone interview. The alleged victims were current or past clients of the business, Allen said.
The business, which also goes by CME Fitness, also provides training and instruction in tumbling, aerial silks, juggling, fire arts, wall walking and acrobatics, according to the company’s website.