Denver Cheerleader Video: Child Abuse Or 'Bad Judgment'? No Charges For Coach, Says DA

DENVER, CO -- After a Denver police child abuse investigation into cheerleading coaching at East High School, a determination was made by the Denver District Attorney’s Office not to file criminal charges. A cheerleader, Alley Wakefield, 13, had to seek medical treatment for injured ligaments in her groin and hamstring after a June cheerleading camp practice where Coach Ozell Williams and others held her down to practice a "splits" maneuver. Williams was put on administrative leave and then fired by the Denver Public Schools after a video of the incident was released in August. In addition, two top administrators at East High School, Principal Andy Mendelsberg and Assistant Principal Lisa Porter, resigned.

Denver DA Beth McCann's office said Friday the Denver police investigation included "dozens of interviews of cheerleader team members, parents, school personnel, and others."

But in the end, McCann said it was not possible to file criminal charges that would stick "beyond a reasonable doubt."

Watch the Denver7 video here:

“The video of the incident involving the injured student that has been widely disseminated is painful to watch," McCann said. "However, after a very thorough and careful review of all of the evidence gathered in the investigation and the statements of many members of the cheerleading squad, I have concluded that the evidence does not support the filing of criminal charges. In order to prove a charge of criminal behavior, the case must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

There are differing opinions regarding the use of this technique of cheerleading training. While I believe the technique should not be used, that is not the standard of proof for a criminal case. Most of the cheerleading squad participated in the technique that day, and there are differing accounts of the circumstances.

The individual involved should not be a coach in high school sports and he no longer is. The principal and athletic director of the school have retired and resigned. The message should be clear that this type of technique has no place in high school cheerleading coaching. The bad judgment of the coach, however, does not constitute a prosecutable crime,” McCann's statement said.

After the August release of the video, Denver School Supt. Tom Boasberg said in a statement that as the father of two teen girls, he was upset by the video, which showed conduct not permitted in DPS.
"We absolutely prohibit any practices that place our students’ physical and mental health in jeopardy," Boasberg's statement said. "Students will never be forced to perform an activity or exercise at which they express their desire to stop."

Wakefield's mother, Kirsten told news reporters in August she was upset by the apathy of other adults at the East cheerleading camp.

"I saw people being tortured. Their screams and cries sounded like a serial killer had come after them," she said. "It didn’t feel right. Somebody had attacked my little girl and people sat around and let it happen and nobody stopped them."

It remains to be seen whether Kirsten Wakefield, and her husband Eric, will follow up with any kind of legal action againgst the district.

Image via YouTube Denver 7