Marietta Cheerleader Accused Of Robbing Children Out Of Jail

MARIETTA, GA --- A 17-year-old high school cheerleader accused of robbing young children at a July 4th pool party is out of jail.

Defense attorney Mike Moran, who represents 17-year-old Chelsea Steele, tells 11Alive's Paul Crawley his client has posted a $5,000 bond on a robbery charge.

On Wednesday, Moran issued a public apology for Steele, saying "She is extremely remorseful about what has happened."

Moran says Steele admits grabbing a cash box with $147 from some young children who were selling some hats and t-shirts at a July 4th neighborhood pool party in the Saint Charles Square subdivision on Sandy Plains Road.

Two of the children were trying to help their dad's sagging embroidery business.

The victims and their families will appear on Friday morning's Today on NBC to tell their story to a national audience.

The Sprayberry High School cheerleader had been held in the Cobb County Jail since Saturday being arrested for robbery.

Steele faces the felony charge as an adult as well as a misdemeanor charge of underage possession of alcohol.

Moran says he met with his client at the jail for several hours Monday night and that she's mortified by what she's done.

"She is just torn up about what happened," Moran told 11 Alive News, "She'd like to express to the children who were involved in this and had to experience it, as well as their parents, that she is extremely sorry for what happened and wants an opportunity down the road to say that to their faces."

Meanwhile, Cobb County Police told 11 Alive News Tuesday that they have now located and interviewed 3 other teenage girls who apparently fled the scene with Steele in a white car.

No word yet on whether the other teens will also face criminal charges.

On Monday some of the parents of the children who were robbed said they might be willing to ask that charges be dropped if all 4 of the teens publicly apologize to the children.

When informed of Steele's apology Tuesday, one of the parents still isn't sure.

"We're still discussing with my wife and friends and family," says parent Joe Green whose 9 and 11-year-old daughters were trying to help his business.

"It's a tough decision," Green says, "I don't know, to be honest right now."

Since the case does not involve a violent crime, the Cobb County District Attorney's office confirms dropping the charges might be possible if the victims agree.

They also say lesser punishment, like diversion or other juvenile charges are also a possibility, but they have not yet had a chance to study the case.

In addition to rising senior Chelsea Steele, sources tell 11Alive News the other 3 girls also attend Sprayberry High.

Cobb County School spokesman Jay Dillon says the system's policy apparently says students cannot be suspended or expelled for incidents that happen off of school property.

But he adds that Cobb's School Board recently passed a stiffer penalty which could ban them from extracurricular activities, such as cheerleading, which are considered a privilege and not a right