Two cheerleaders who appeared in the Netflix docuseries Cheer were arrested this week in separate criminal cases relating to alleged sexual misconduct involving minors.
Robert Joseph Scianna Jr., 25, was arrested Wednesday in Virginia and charged with felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and using an electronic communication device to solicit sex, according to the Chesterfield County Police Department. The investigation indicated Scianna met a juvenile male through a social media platform and arranged to meet the juvenile for sex. Scianna is currently being held in Chesterfield County Jail without bond.
Mitchell Ryan, a 23-year-old member of the Navarro College cheer team featured in Cheer, was arrested Wednesday in Texas by the Coppell Police Department. He was charged with aggravated sexual assault against a minor relating to an incident that allegedly took place on July 2020, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department records show. Ryan posted bond on Friday morning and was released, also according to records.
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The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to both Scianna Jr. and Ryan for comment.
Ryan’s lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal told USA Today, “This has been a nightmare for Mitch and his family. We look forward to Dallas County hearing the truth and this case being over.”
These charges come nearly five months after fellow Cheer star Jerry Harris was federally charged with producing child pornography. In December, Harris was charged with seven additional counts of sex crimes involving minors. An indictment made public by attorneys for two of Harris’ alleged victims, cited by the Chicago Sun-Times, stated Harris was charged with seven counts of child pornography and sex crimes involving multiple victims that alleges misconduct in Illinois, Florida and Texas.
The 21-year-old star of the Netflix series was originally charged with one count of producing child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois. He has remained in custody since his September arrest.
The first season of Cheer premiered last January on Netflix.
