Monica Aldama’s Son Faces Child Pornography Charges in Texas

William Austin Aldama, 27, the well-known cheer coach Monica Aldama’s son, is facing significant legal issues in an unsettling development.

According to Navarro County court records, he was arrested on January 17th and faces ten counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography, a third-degree felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Aldama’s arrest casts a pall over his mother, Monica Aldama, who rose to prominence as the head coach of the Navarro College cheerleading squad and was prominently featured in the hit Netflix documentary “Cheer.”

Monica Aldama’s retirement, announced after nearly three decades, coincides with her son’s distressing legal troubles.

William Austin Aldama was bonded for $20,000 for each of the ten charges and was released on a personal recognizance bond, subject to certain conditions. The lack of information regarding legal representation adds uncertainty to his case.

This incident is consistent with a pattern of legal issues in the Cheer community. Notably, Jerry Harris, a fan favorite and rising star on the show was arrested in September 2020 for soliciting explicit content from a minor. Harris reached a plea agreement in 2022, which resulted in a 12-year prison sentence for child pornography.

Five months after Harris’ arrest, two more Cheer cast members were accused of sexual misconduct with minors, extending the ripple effect. Mitchell Ryan, arrested in 2021 for alleged sexual assault, was not indicted by a Dallas County grand jury due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Ryan, a cheerleader turned coach at Cheer Athletics, faced legal challenges that reverberated throughout the cheerleading community.

To make matters worse, Robert Joseph Scianna Jr., a coach and choreographer on the show, was arrested in 2021. Scianna Jr., who was arrested in Virginia, pleaded guilty to a solicitation charge, adding another stain to the reputation of those involved in the Cheer documentary.

These incidents highlight the darker side of a world that received widespread attention after the premiere of “Cheer,” which aired in 2020.

The show chronicled the Navarro College cheerleading team’s journey and highlighted the school’s status as a national cheerleading powerhouse under Monica Aldama’s leadership.

Navarro has won 17 National Cheerleaders Association junior college national titles as well as six Grand National championships. Monica Aldama’s departure from coaching coincides with not only her son’s legal problems but also with larger issues plaguing the cheerleading community.