A former cheerleading coach in Rhode Island was reportedly arrested on Friday for allegedly molesting a child "almost daily" nearly a decade ago.
Alyshia Tkacs, also known and treated as the "team mother," was arrested on five counts of first-degree child molestation and two counts of second-degree child molestation after the victim, now an adult, came forward to the police. The arrest came after several months of investigation into the abuse, which happened over a two-year period beginning in 2012 when the victim was between 12 and 14 years old.
East Providence Police Department's Special Victim Unit posted press release on their Facebook page regarding the child molestation.
The 33-year-old former cheerleading coach of a competitive cheerleading organization reportedly molested the victim "almost daily" during those two years in East Providence and Barrington. ABC 6 News spoke with the former owner of Superior Cheer All Stars, "I do know (redacted) did not want Alyshia with (redacted) but later learned (redacted) continued to meet her at a park where Alyshia gave (redacted) gifts," the gym owner, Dawn Castonguay, said in a statement.
"Never thought it was a molestation thing since they were still hanging out after they both left the gym." The facility was closed in 2018. The Barrington Police Department is also conducting its own investigation into potential crimes that may have occurred in its town.
Tkacs was working at Care New England Health System, a hospital group in Rhode Island, until her arrest. The hospital said that she had been disciplined pending the outcome of the investigation. "Care New England conducted background checks prior to employment and those were clean," the statement read. "She has been suspended indefinitely without pay and denied access to our campus. We take the care and safety of our community very seriously, so we immediately took action when notified."
A grand jury indicted Tkacs on the seven child molestation charges. She was taken into custody at her home in Cranston. A judge ruled that she be held without bail. She is set to appear in court on Thursday, June 23.
Anyone who has information about other possible victims is encouraged to call East Providence Police Detective Michael Spremulli at 401-435-7600, ext. 20024.
