Texas cheerleading coach charged with sexual assault
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This undated photo shows DeVincent Phillips, 40, who is accused of sexual assault. (MyFoxHouston.com)
A Texas cheerleading coach is in police custody after a girl told police he sexually assaulted her three different times.
Police arrested DeVincent Phillips, 40, at Xcel Athletics, where the alleged victim had attended training sessions, MyFoxHouston.com reported. According to the gym’s website, Phillips is the owner and an instructor.
The girl, whose name and age have not been released by authorities, reportedly told police about the incidents in late October.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Some athletes and parents defended the instructor as news of his arrest spread.
“Whoever is doing this is lying,” Molly Fitzpatrick, a longtime trainee of Phillips, told KHOU.com.
“He would never do that. I’ve been here forever and he’s never laid a hand on any of us,” she told the news station.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I trust this man,” Jana Lynch, a parent of another athlete told KHOU.com.
Phillips is being held on $20,000 bond, MyFoxHouston.com reported.
Police are concerned that there may be more victims and ask people with information to contact Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.
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