A Columbia County jury has convicted 28-year-old former Vault Elite coach Anthony Trenkler of first-degree sexual abuse and related charges, a verdict that has rocked the tight-knit St. Helens community. A judge ordered Trenkler held in custody until his sentencing hearing, set for March 5, 2026, closing a case that began with an August 2024 report to St. Helens police and has been the subject of intense local scrutiny ever since.
Jurors found Trenkler guilty on three counts: first-degree sexual abuse, attempted first-degree sexual abuse and furnishing alcohol to a minor, and acquitted him on the remaining charges, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Prosecutors said the attempted-abuse count was tied to testimony that he tried to cause a 9-year-old to touch him, while the first-degree conviction centered on inappropriate contact at Vault Elite.
Indictment and arrest
Trenkler was arrested in September 2024 and later hit with a sweeping 19-count felony indictment that accused him of sexually abusing multiple children, attempting to abuse another child and furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to the City of St. Helens. Police said detectives executed a search warrant after arranging a meeting with Trenkler and that the investigation widened as additional alleged victims connected to his coaching work were identified.
Allegations and timeline
The case began when a parent reported that her 5-year-old daughter and another child had been abused, and prosecutors told jurors that several more young children later came forward, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. In court, they said some of the alleged conduct dated back to 2017 and that multiple children who reported abuse had ties to Trenkler through Vault Elite and other local activities.
Gym response
Vault Elite, the St. Helens cheer and tumbling gym where Trenkler worked, said it fired him the day after police were first notified and temporarily shut down classes while cooperating with investigators, local reporting shows. Parents and community members told reporters the verdict has reopened painful questions about how youth programs are supervised and how quickly allegations are acted on in smaller towns, according to KPTV.
What happens next
Trenkler is being held in the Columbia County Jail and is due back in court for sentencing on March 5, 2026, court records show, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Under Oregon law, first-degree sexual abuse is a Measure 11 offense with a mandatory minimum prison term of 75 months, or six years and three months, as outlined by the Oregon Legislature.
Police seeking information
St. Helens detectives say their work is not over and have urged anyone with information about Trenkler or other potential victims to contact investigators. The City of St. Helens has provided a dedicated line for tips, and anyone with relevant information is asked to call 503-397-1521, the city said.
