Ex-RI Cheerleading Coach Facing Child Molestation Charges

CRANSTON, RI — A former East Providence cheerleading coach who now lives in Cranston was arrested Friday after police said she sexually molested one of her athletes.

Alyshia Tkacs, 33, was charged with five counts of first degree child molestation and two counts of second degree child molestation.

The charges came about after the victim, who is now an adult, told East Providence police she was repeatedly molested by Tkacs over a two-year period. Police said the assaults happened when the victim was 12 to 14.

Police said Tkacs was a coach for a competitive cheerleading organization when the victim met her in 2012. The victim told investigators the sexual assaults happened in East Providence and Barrington during the two-year period and were almost daily.

The Barrington Police Department was notified of the victim’s allegations and are conducting their own investigation into potential crimes that may have occurred in their town.

Tkacs was indicted by a grand jury and is being held without bail until her next court appearance on Thursday.

Anyone with information about other possible victims is asked to call East Providence police at 401-435-7600, extension 20024.