Monica Aldama’s son, William Austin Aldama, who gained recognition for his brief appearance in the Netflix documentary “Cheer,” has been arrested in Texas, facing charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse images, according to Navarro County court records and his legal representatives.
The 27-year-old is accused of 10 counts, as outlined in the indictment filed on January 17 in Navarro County. The indictment specifies various digital video files, with allegations suggesting the involvement of children as young as 2 years old.
The charges against Austin Aldama consist of 10 counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography, classified as a third-degree felony, dating back to July 2022.
Austin Aldama (Credits: FOX 13 Tampa Bay)
Attorneys Heather Barbieri and Kerri Donica, representing him, maintain his innocence. In a statement, they addressed the media scrutiny fueled by his mother’s celebrity status, stating, “Austin is innocent. The charges against him lack legal merit, and we are confident that the facts, which will prove his innocence, will come to light during the legal proceedings.”
Monica Aldama, renowned as the coach of Navarro College’s competitive cheer squad in “Cheer,” attended the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 2022. Austin Aldama’s indictment was initially reported by TMZ.
Austin appeared in two episodes of “Cheer,” a show that ran for two seasons, according to IMDb.
He has been released on bond with specific conditions, including random drug testing, a monthly reporting fee of $60, and voluntary searches of his cell phone and computer. Moreover, he is prohibited from accessing pornographic material through any means, including the Internet.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office were not immediately available for comment.
Jerry Harris, another participant in “Cheer,” faced similar charges and was sentenced in July 2022 to 12 years in federal prison. His case involved victims across Texas, Florida, and Illinois.
In February 2022, Harris admitted guilt to one count each of receipt of child pornography and intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, including soliciting sexually explicit photos and videos from a 17-year-old boy and other minor victims.
Austin Aldama’s legal team, Barbieri and Donica, urged the public to refrain from rushing to judgment and emphasized their commitment to seeking justice for their client, stating, “We will not be swayed by the sensationalism surrounding this case.”
