PLANTATION (CBSMiami) – It’s news that’s turned the tight-knit south Florida cheerleading neighborhood the wrong way up.
“It was honestly disgust and, like, shock,” mentioned Nikki Hearn, whose household owns 5 Star Athletics, a Broward cheerleading health club.
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“I don’t even know if I can put it into words. To me it’s just absolutely horrifying, disgusting,” added sister Jordan Hearn, a cheer coach at 5 Star Athletics.
Horrifying and disgusting that fellow cheer coach — Raul Albites — from the now closed Broward Elite All Stars health club sits in jail, accused of inappropriate conduct with a 14-year-old woman.
“I can’t even imagine how she felt. I have a son and can’t imagine him being put in a situation like that,” added Jordan.
The feds say the 39-year outdated coach incessantly texted and FaceTimed together with his teen sufferer, saying issues like, “I want to be your BF… I see you as my girl…”
Albites additionally coached Nikki Hearn. She tells CBS4 News she at all times felt one thing was simply not proper with him.
“There was just something about him that , mm-mm, don’t like this man, not for me,” she mentioned.
Nikki disliked Albites a lot that she determined to give up cheer altogether.
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“You don’t want to believe someone that you know can just hurt somebody that way, especially a child.”
A toddler who was too scared to come back ahead for 2 years. The sufferer solely lastly admitting what occurred after her mom discovered racy textual content messages on her daughter’s telephone.
“I’m sure there are more kids out there who were victims to him,” mentioned Nikki.
Jordan added, “Absolutely do worry she may not be the only one. He was around hundreds of kids, maybe more.”
It’s why 5 Star Athletics takes the security and safety of their college students so critically.
“We have cameras, in those two corners and in the offices as well,” Nikki identified.
“A background check is required and then we also do a full safe sport course.”
“If something did happen to you, there are people out there who will help you,” Nikki reminded potential different victims.
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Albites is charged federally with “enticement of a minor.” If convicted, he faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 10 years and most of life in jail.