Cheerleading coach had ‘inappropriate contact’ with underage student, Georgia cops say

A cheerleading coach in northern Georgia is being accused of “inappropriate contact” with one of his young students, according to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Coach James Everett Sisson was arrested and faces “charges of child molestation and criminal attempt,” county officials said in a news release.

The alleged offenses occurred while he coached at a business specializing in sports performance training, including gymnastics, cheerleading and fitness, officials said.

“Investigators acting on a tip found evidence alleging the 49-year-old Sisson had inappropriate contact with an underage female while working as a cheerleading coach with Culprit Athletics,” officials said.

“Sisson is known to work with young students to coach them with cheerleading and tumbling exercise skills.”

He was not a coach for the Catoosa County Public Schools and did not work for the school system, officials said. Catoosa County is on the Tennessee state line, southeast of Chattanooga.

Details of when and where the alleged incidents occurred were not released.

Culprit Athletics does not have Sisson currently listed as a staff member on its website. The company says it has at least three locations: Dalton and Ringgold in Georgia and just across the state line in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Sisson has worked at other private coaching facilities in the area and the sheriff’s office is asking “anyone with information that could help our investigation,” to contact the department.

This story was originally published December 1, 2021 at 10:36 AM with the headline "Cheerleading coach had ‘inappropriate contact’ with underage student, Georgia cops say."