In Cleveland, Tennessee, David Michael Pendergrass, a 40-year-old former cheer coach and owner of Cheer Madness Elite, pleaded guilty to three counts of misdemeanor assault by offensive touching on August 8, 2025, under a plea agreement that reduced his original four felony counts of sexual battery, including two involving minors between 2018 and 2020.

Arrested in June 2023 after an indictment, Pendergrass faced up to eight years in prison, substantial fines, and mandatory sex offender registration if convicted of the original charges. The plea deal, accepted by Criminal Court Judge Sandra Donaghy, dropped one felony charge and resulted in 18 months of probation, payment of court costs, and a no-contact order with the victims, with each misdemeanor carrying 180 days of suspended time served consecutively.

According to his attorney, Franklin Chancey of the Chancey-Kanavos law firm, Pendergrass, who did not admit guilt, took the plea deal due to the financial, emotional, and reputational toll of fighting the allegations, prioritizing his family’s well-being. Pendergrass has since transitioned to a new career, and Cheer Madness Elite permanently closed in June 2023.

Chancey emphasized that Pendergrass is neither incarcerated nor on the sex offender registry and expressed concerns about inaccurate media coverage, noting that not all accusations involved minors. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Krista Oswalt, with Pendergrass represented by defense attorney Paula Henderson.