Over one year since his arrest in March 2022, Vigiland D’Haiti, a former Clermont cheerleading coach and gym owner, entered a guilty plea on July 12, 2023, in federal court. The guilty plea pertains to count two of D’Haiti’s indictment, which accuses him of coercing a minor victim to create sexually explicit content and sexual exploitation of children.
D’Haiti, 41, was arrested at his home by Winter Garden police on March 27, 2022, and charged with multiple counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of victims ages 12 to 15. According to the arrest affidavit, there was an ongoing investigation on D’Haiti for over four months prior to his arrest for inappropriately touching his students. The report states D’Haiti would touch the girls’ hips and butts when he hugged them. Detectives found evidence that he also communicated to his students on Snapchat (Vig79) and Facebook. The report says that Vigiland D’Haiti would Snapchat the girls and say things like ‘you don’t love me?’ “I love you, I miss you,” and “You’re my favorite.” One of the alleged victims reported that he would make her sit on his lap to feel his erection.
D’Haiti’s plea to the second count was accepted by the court, he was adjudicated guilty, and the court ordered a presentence investigation report. Rush Allstars has been closed for over a year. D’Haiti remains in custody until his sentencing date, which is set for October 2023.
It is expected that any institutions in which children learn and develop skills offer an environment in which they are safe from violence, bullying, harassment, and sexual abuse. Athletic coaches are entrusted to facilitate learning and support the educational and training needs of their players. Anyone who sexually violates children has no place working in the community or school athletic programs. Any organization in which such a crime is committed must take responsibility for failing to properly screen potential coaches and protect their players.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing survivors of sexual abuse. We have handled multiple cases of sexual abuse by authority figures in schools. If you or a loved one was sexually abused, assaulted, raped, or molested by a coach, principal, teacher, or other school employees, contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at [email protected] for a free consultation.