Jason McCartney, Texas Cheerleading Coach, New Allegations of Sexual Abuse

The first known victim of Cheerleading track and field coach Jason McCartney filed a lawsuit alleging that he was “severely and consistently abused for many years” even after McCartney had reached adulthood and she was still a pre-pubescent child.

Carrie Methvin as a child was playing with a doctor’s kit at the McCartney family home when McCartney, an old family friend nine years her senior, pulled down his pants and asked her to insert a toy syringe into his ass and his penis into her mouth, according to early memories recounted in a copy of the petition. complain.

“Mccartney’s abuse of Methvin escalated from there,” the lawsuit states, alleging that McCartney would place her hands and mouth on Methvin’s crotch and let her touch his genitals. The abuse, which often took place at his parents’ home in Texas, began when they were both minors and Alleged lawsuits became more and more frequent as he grew older.

According to Methvin’s attorney, Michelle Simpson Tuegel, Methvin tried to tell McCartney’s mother, Bonnie, about the abuse. She “did nothing to prevent abuse or report it, facilitating McCartney’s twisted, deranged, and illegal conduct,” the lawsuit states.

“It shows a very early pattern of girl abuse by McCartney that we know of as adults,” Tuegel told The Daily Beast on Thursday. “In this situation, it was his mother and him that we were trying to hold accountable, but in the years that followed, it was Cheer Athletics and the Federation of American Stars that were able to stop it. blocked that and didn’t.”

Methvin is the fifth known accuser with filed a lawsuit against McCartney for alleged sexual abuse. Cheer Athletics, the leading cheerleading organization where some of the abuse has occurred, has been criticized for its role in failing to address reports of athletes’ sexual abuse.

McCartney used cheerleaders to conceal his abuse, according to Methvin’s complaint, which describes his “comfortable access to young children over the past two decades” while doing it. jobs in cheerleading gyms across Texas.

Accusing McCartney of sexual assault and battery, her attorneys allege that in addition to their exposure at his parents’ home, McCartney also assisted Methvin in cheering.

Under the guise of helping Methvin practice his cheerleading and gymnastics skills, McCartney would slide his hand down her thigh up her thigh, running his hand down her bottom. During the lifting exercise, McCartney would slide his fingers inside Methvin’s genitals, the lawsuit states.

Tuegel has provided legal advice to survivors of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse, including Olympic gymnasts Tasha Schwikert, she told The Daily Beast.

She also represents an unidentified pair of women and influencer cheers twins Hannah and Jessica Gerlacher who accused McCartney of abuse. Twins Allegedly it started when they were 15 at a Cheer Athletics gym in Texas.

According to the lawsuit, McCartney’s mother admitted via text message that she trusted Methvin and believed the abuse had occurred — a string of text messages that would be presented as evidence as the case progressed, Tuegel said.

McCartney had become a co-owner at Cheer Athletics’ Austin, and was working there when the Gerlachers filed the lawsuit last July. When contacted by The Daily Beast for comment on the latest allegations on Thursday, a gym employee declined to comment and declined to say whether McCartney still works there. Although his name appears to have been removed from the gym’s website, his current employment status “is a big question mark,” says Tuegel.

“We’re going to figure that out, and of course, we want that to end,” she said.

Two employees at Plano gym also declined to confirm McCartney’s employment, advising The Daily Beast that they had been asked not to discuss McCartney or his job status with the callers.

In an Instagram post that has since been deleted following the Gerlachers’ lawsuit, Cheer Athletics appeared to defend McCartney saying they had determined that “his interactions with the Gerlachers were limited to practice exercises.” team and optional acrobatic lessons for a period of time that they always will. in plain sight of dozens – if not hundreds – of athletes, coaches and parents. Mr McCartney staunchly denies any wrongdoing of a sexual nature in his dealings with the Gerlachers. “

Cheer Athletics later apologized for the post, saying it was “hurried to respond” and would work with an outside company to provide another route for members to report misconduct while Find comprehensive training programs for coaches, athletes, partners and suppliers.

Now in her 30s, Methvin said she has largely shielded her trauma from the public, only revealing to McCartney’s mother and her own family what happened to her. She said she was encouraged to return after reading about the Gerlachers experience.

“It’s hard to fight people like family to me, but I can’t be silent anymore as I have two daughters looking out for me and other survivors being abused by the same person fighting for justice,” Methvin said in a statement. “I hope that through this lawsuit he is removed from any position where he had access to minors and that he is brought to justice along with every adult who knows about it. and not on our behalf.”

In addition to the lawsuit, Methvin has also filed a lawsuit with the Texas City Police. She is seeking $1 million in monetary relief.

Tuegel said she believes that if Cheer Athletics “exercises accountability” and has policies in place to protect children, McCartney’s alleged abuse could be prevented.

“I still don’t think so,” she said.

In an email Thursday, the Federation of American Stars declined to comment “on litigation matters,” instead, The Daily Beast mentioned a statement was brought to its members a month after the Gerlachers lawsuit landed over its focus on safety.