The son of Monica Aldama, the cheerleading coach who gained fame on the Netflix documentary series "Cheer," has been indicted on multiple charges related to child sexual abuse videos, according to court records. William Austin Aldama, 27, from Dallas, was arrested in Navarro County, Texas, on 10 counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography, which is a third-degree felony. Each count carries a potential prison sentence of two to 10 years if convicted. The indictment, filed the day before Aldama's arrest, accuses him of possessing or accessing videos containing images of children under 18 engaging in sexual conduct. The titles of the videos, cited as evidence for the charges, are described as graphic and disturbing, with some explicitly advertising the abuse of children as young as two, four, and seven years old.

Aldama was taken into custody by the Navarro County Sheriff's Office and later released on a personal recognizance bond. His bond was set at $20,000 for each count against him. As part of his release conditions, he will be on probation starting on February 1 and will have to report monthly to the Community Supervision Department in Freestone County. He will also be subject to random drug tests and voluntary searches of his electronic devices, residence, and vehicle by law enforcement. Additionally, he is prohibited from viewing pornographic images, including through the internet.

Monica Aldama, who recently announced her retirement from coaching, rose to fame as the coach of a competitive cheerleading team at Navarro College, which was featured in the award-winning series "Cheer." Her son, Austin, made only a few appearances on the show. His father, Chris Aldama, serves as the director of community supervision and corrections in Navarro County.

The Navarro County District Attorney's Office, which recused itself from participating in the investigation, declined to comment on Austin Aldama's case. When asked about the recusal's connection to Chris Aldama's employment, the district attorney also refrained from commenting.

Attorneys representing Austin Aldama released a statement defending him, claiming that the charges lack legal merit and are motivated by the "shameless exploitation of celebrity connections." They expressed confidence that the facts would prove his innocence during the legal proceedings.

This is not the first scandal involving the cast of "Cheer." Jerry Harris, one of the documentary series' stars, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to sex crimes involving minors. Harris pleaded guilty to child pornography charges and traveling for illicit sex with minors. The charges stemmed from his solicitation of sexually explicit photographs from a minor in exchange for money and his trip to Florida for the purpose of engaging in illegal sexual conduct with a 15-year-old.

The arrest of Austin Aldama follows a pattern of legal troubles within the “Cheer” cast. However, his attorneys urge the public to refrain from premature judgments and emphasize their commitment to seeking justice for him.