The owner and head cheerleading coach of Action Athletics in Bellevue has been accused of child molestation involving two teen girls, according to recent charges rush filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Brian Marshall Antich, 50, was charged with two counts of third-degree child molestation and one count of second-degree sexual misconduct, according to charging documents.
The state requested Antich’s bail be set at $50,000 and that the court issues sexual assault protection orders for the named victims, in addition to prohibiting Antich from having contact with any minors.
“After gaining the trust of the young girls he coached, the defendant began molesting the two young victims on multiple occasions. He did this brazenly under the guise of practicing cheerleading maneuvers,” wrote Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rhyan C. Anderson in the charging documents.
The Bellevue Reporter has reached out to Action Athletics for comment.
Between April 1, 2021 through Nov. 24, 2021, Antich allegedly had sexual contact for the purpose of sexual gratification with a girl who was 15 years old at the time. From Jan. 1, 2021 through July 5 this year, Antich allegedly had sexual contact for the purpose of sexual gratification another girl who was 15 years old at the time, according to the charging documents.
The charging documents stated that between Jan. 1, 2021 and July 25 this year, Antich reportedly abused a supervisory position within the relationship in order to engage with the underage victims.
Photographs taken during a cheer practice that depicted the alleged molestation were described as “disturbing” by the prosecutor’s office; Antich allegedly touched the girl’s genitals eight times during the course of practicing a particular cheerleading maneuver, according to the charging documents.
The police report, taken by detectives from the Bellevue Police Department, state that Antich allegedly took efforts to spend time alone with each of the girls, and allegedly told one victim that he loved her and wanted to marry her. According to the police report, the girls were afraid to report the molestation out of fears of being removed from the cheerleading team.
Antich’s arraignment hearing is at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at the King County Courthouse.
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