Cheerleading coach faces sex charges

Nikola Marinovich. Photo / Facebook

A cheerleading coach has been stood down amid allegations of sex with a 14-year-old.

Executive director of Total Cheerleading Nikola Michael Marinovich, 25, was charged with doing an indecent act, attempting sexual connection and having sexual connection with one of his cheerleaders.

He was also charged with sexual violation of another young cheerleader. Neither girl can be identified.

Another coach at the Auckland club, who did not want to be named, said the charges were a shock. He described Marinovich as an "amazing guy with no ill intent".

"All he wants is to do good by everybody. I've had no trouble with him at all and he's been a good friend.

"I know him to be a genuine guy and he would never intentionally do anything like what he has been charged with."

The first alleged victim declined to comment but the second alleged victim told the Herald on Sunday she "got into a sticky situation" with Marinovich while cheering for a team in 2007.

She claimed Marinovich would go night-clubbing with the cheerleaders, which was frowned upon by other clubs.

"The club always had a weird dynamic like the coaches would go up town with the girls and it was all just too close for comfort," she said. "There are so many young kids there and [parents] probably don't even know what's going on."

Owner of competing club All Stars Cheerleading and president of the New Zealand Cheerleading Association Kimberley Ramsay said she dis- sociated herself from Marinovich after he posted photos on Facebook of himself getting drunk with cheerleaders.

"He has never been a member of the NZCA, he approached us at one stage to coach the national team and we turned him down."

She said affiliated clubs followed a code of ethics which forbade relationships with students.

The NZCA coaching contract stated:

"Relationships with cheerleaders you teach must be professional at all times. Examples of inappropriate interactions could include, but are not limited to: supplying alcohol, cigarettes or illicit substances to cheerleaders, sending txt and Facebook messages and emails unrelated to cheerleading, engaging in sexual relationships with cheerleaders and gossiping or being negative about other All Star staff or cheerleaders to or in front of cheerleaders."

Ramsay was disappointed about the allegations, which she said could taint the industry. "It doesn't look good."

Marinovich's lawyer, Richard Earwaker, declined to comment. Marinovich is due to appear in the Waitakere District Court on Wednesday week.