LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A Clermont-area cheerleading coach is out on a $30,000 bond after he was arrested Sunday, accused of child molestation by multiple victims, according to the Clermont Police Department.
Clermont police said Vigiland D’Haiti, 39, was taken into custody at his home by Winter Garden police on a Lake County warrant for his arrest for multiple counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on victims aged 12-15 years old.
D’Haiti is co-owner and head coach of Rush Allstars, as well as a Pop Warner Nationals judge and a high school choreographer, according to the World Cheer Center website.
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Clermont police said they were made aware of the allegations in January 2022 and victims have come forward to describe incidents that allegedly took place as far back at 2013. During a news conference Wednesday, Sgt. Erin Razo with the department said three victims have come forward so far, one who was 14 years old and the other two who were 15 years old at the time an incident occurred.
Razo said D’Haiti has not worked at the gym since they received the complaints and that the allegations occurred at the gym’s location.
“We’ve got to be mindful that when we put our children in these types of situations that it’s our responsibility to watch them, ensure that they’re safe,” she said. “You know, you do trust those individuals that you’re leaving your children with because that’s what they’re doing. They’re coaching children.”
In addition to coaching at Rush Allstars, D’Haiti has coached at several other gyms in the Central Florida area and beyond, including high schools, police said. Orange County Public Schools also released a statement confirming D’Haiti is a teacher in the district. The statement reads:
“The district does not comment on personnel matters. We take all allegations very seriously and the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. There is currently an open internal investigation for Vigiland D’Haiti by our office of Professional Standards. He was placed on administrative leave from Cypress Creek High School back in January, pending the outcome of the investigation and has not been on campus since that time. Mr. D’Haiti is a teacher and was hired on August 22, 2005.”
Clermont police urge any other individuals with information about D’Haiti, or additional victims, to come forward.