Former Cheerleading Coach Found Guilty of Abusing 10 Young Girls
Former Cheerleading Coach Convicted of Molesting 10 Girls in Orange County
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Erick Joseph Kristianson, a 46-year-old former competitive cheerleading coach, was found guilty of 23 felony counts involving the sexual abuse of ten girls, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. The convictions include lewd acts upon minors and sexual penetration by a foreign object.
The abuse occurred between 1999 and 2006 while Kristianson served as a camp counselor and coach for several local organizations, including Magic All-Stars, Trabuco Hills High School, and a YMCA camp in South Orange County. Authorities noted that he exploited his positions to gain access to young girls, some as young as nine.
Kristianson was arrested in Fargo, North Dakota, in 2023 following a warrant linked to the Orange County investigation and was subsequently extradited to California. His arrest was prompted by later allegations that surfaced in Florida, where he faced similar charges against children at a gym.
The revelations regarding Kristianson’s past crimes largely came to light in 2022 after he was arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida, for offenses involving three young athletes. This prompted a former student in California to reach out to authorities, leading to a broader investigation.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer highlighted the predatory nature of Kristianson’s actions, stating, "For decades, Erick Kristianson used cheerleading gyms in Orange County and across the country as a kind of perverted catalog from which to select the next young girl he was going to molest."
Kristianson is scheduled for sentencing on March 19, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 165 years to life in prison. Additionally, he has pending legal charges in Florida concerning child molestation and exhibition involving young athletes.
