re Jonathan Ryker's offenses
Access Cheerleading released a statement in regards to the incident:
"In September 2022, we received allegations of nonprofessional electronic communication regarding Jonathan Ryker and a minor cheerleading athlete. We immediately and permanently removed Jonathan Ryker from the facility. We reported what we knew to law enforcement and the United States Allstar Federation. On Thursday, March 30th- 8 months later - we were notified of Jon Ryker's arrest for five felony charges of offenses against minors, including sexual assault, as well as Angel Ryker's charges for witness tampering and criminal attempt. We are grateful to the NJ State Police for their commitment to the children of our state and we continue to work with them through this ongoing criminal matter. We stand with all survivors of abuse and will continue to create the safest and most consistent place possible for children to compete in allstar cheerleading."
New Jersey cheer coach, mother charged in sexual assault case
The investigation began last year in August after authorities were informed that Ryker had sent explicit content to a minor on social media, according to police. During the eight-month investigation, detectives were able to identify a second victim.
Read More: NJ cheer coach charged with sexual assault of young students |
NJ cheer coach charged with sexual assault of young students
SOUTHAMPTON—As an eight-month-long probe by the New Jersey State Police and several area police departments that ultimately led to a series of charges being lodged this month against a 25-year-old former coach at a Southampton Township cheerleading and tumbling studio gathered steam, a much larger and more shocking scandal involving similar accusations of sexual abuse – this one on the Piedmont of South Carolina – was causing the entire network of cheerleading, tumbling and dance studios to which that facility formerly belonged to literally come apart.
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The suspect in the case, Jonathan Ryker, 25, of Hammonton, a one-time Hammonton High School football player, was charged earlier this month with a total of five counts in Southampton, Medford, Westampton and Lumberton townships that include having allegedly committed sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, and having endangered the welfare of a child. In addition, his mother, Angela Ryker, 51, also of Hammonton, was charged by Medford Township Police on a single count of witness tampering.
The charges against Jonathan Ryker range from having improper physical contact with one underage client to sending “sexually explicit photographs and images” to another, who was 17 at the time, then enticing her to go with him to a motel and have sexual intercourse with him, after which he was allegedly overheard on a court-ordered recorded telephone call instructing the unidentified victim to tell law enforcement “that she was 18 years old at the time of the incident.”
Angela Ryker is alleged to have knowingly attempted, while aware that an official procedure or investigation was pending, to “induce or otherwise cause the victim to withhold testimony,” using the medium of TikTok, and to “recant her statement.”
The suspect in the case, Jonathan Ryker, 25, of Hammonton, a one-time Hammonton High School football player, was charged earlier this month with a total of five counts in Southampton, Medford, Westampton and Lumberton townships that include having allegedly committed sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, and having endangered the welfare of a child. In addition, his mother, Angela Ryker, 51, also of Hammonton, was charged by Medford Township Police on a single count of witness tampering. The charges against Jonathan Ryker range from having improper physical contact with one underage client to sending “sexually explicit photographs and images” to another, who was 17 at the time, then enticing her to go with him to a motel and have sexual intercourse with him, after which he was allegedly overheard on a court-ordered recorded telephone call instructing the unidentified victim to tell law enforcement “that she was 18 years old at the time of the incident.” Angela Ryker is alleged to have knowingly attempted, while aware that an official procedure or investigation was pending, to “induce or otherwise cause the victim to withhold testimony,” using the medium of TikTok, and to “recant her statement.”
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