COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A man listed as a cheer coach at Powersports Gymnastics in College Station has been arrested in Brenham on Friday after he allegedly asked one of his underage cheerleaders to send nude pictures to his cellphone.
Jose Alvarez, 23, is charged with soliciting a sexual performance by a child. The child was a student at Powersports — a multisport facility in College Station that offers classes for children in gymnastics, cheerleading, dance, martial arts and other recreational activities.
Because the child was under 14 years old at the time of the solicitation, the charge becomes a first-degree felony punishable by five years to life in prison and a $10,000 fine.
According to a College Station police report, the child’s mother told police that the girl admitted Alvarez had asked her to send nude photos of herself to his cellphone via a popular social media app called Snapchat.
Alvarez, 23, allegedly asked the teen, who was on his cheerleading squad, if she was “one of the bad girls that send (sic) photographs.”
She initially denied the request, police say, but admitted to sending a photo after Alvarez offered to give her private lessons in return.
Police say the victim refused at first to send a photo over the Snapchat app, but the coach allegedly offered private lessons in return for the pictures.
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The 13-year old reportedly told police she sent a nude photo of her midsection, but put a five-second limit on the snap. Alvarez asked her to resend the photograph so he could take a screenshot of it, the report said, as photos and videos sent through Snapchat are only available for a set number of seconds before they disappear.
The child said she denied the request, but after Alvarez again offered private lessons she re-sent it and Alvarez was able to take a screenshot, according to authorities.
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The owners of Powersports deferred questions to Chad Jones — a personal injury lawyer with offices in Bryan, Waco, Temple and Houston — who said Alvarez worked at several different recreation clubs in the area, not just Powersports in College Station.
Jones released a statement from the “Powersports family” via email.
The statement said Powersports was aware of the incident, which the company emphasized happened off their premises. The statement said Alvarez is no longer an employee of Powersports and has not been allowed back since his arrest.
“We do extensive background checks on our employees. It is our understanding that the investigating officer did his own background check, and it was also clear,” the statement read. “We have helped authorities with their investigation and will continue to do so. We have let the parents know about the investigation, and they have been very supportive.”
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