Anthony Trenkler, 27, of St. Helens, Columbia County, Oregon, United States is a youth cheer coach. He worked a coach at Vault Elite Cheer in St. Helens where he taught competitive cheer and tumbling to youth between the ages of 3 and 17.
St. Helens is the county seat of Columbia County. Former baseball player Rob Mallicoat, 59, and footballer David Mayo, 31, were born in the city.
Why was Anthony Trenkler arrested?
Between January 1, 2024 and August 13, 2024, Trenkler allegedly inappropriately touched three children under the age of 14 and tried to make them inappropriately touch him. On August 13, 2024, a report was made about him.
While Trenkler was a Vault Elite Cheer employee, he allegedly tried to touch the private areas of minors at the gym and possibly elsewhere. He is also accused of asking the minors to touch him inappropriately.
“It has been brought to our attention that there have been abuse allegations made against one of our former coaches,” Vault Elite Cheer stated on August 14, 2024. The gym added that it is “fully cooperating with local law enforcement” to ensure its athletes are safe and Trenkler has been terminated and he would no longer be allowed in the gym.
Among Vault Elite Cheer’s three coaches on staff, Trenkler was the only male. He coached at the gym for 15 years.
On September 6, 2024, Trenkler was lured by St. Helens Police Department officers to 100 block of McMichael Street in St. Helens where he was arrested. Additional evidence were seized after a search warrant.
Trenkler was booked into the Columbia County Jail in St. Helens. He was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and four counts of first-degree attempted sexual abuse.
On September 9, 2024, Trenkler appeared in court. He pleaded not guilty to the six counts of charges filed against him.
On September 16, 2024, Trenkler will attend a preliminary hearing. He is prohibited from being around minors per the judge’s order.
CONAN Daily 