SoWal High School Coach Arrested for Sex Abuse

[scooterbug44]

In the rare cases when a child does come forward it is often hard to prove these things. Typically the abuser limits the contact to things that are borderline and also uses mental intimidation/trust issues to make the child unsure as to whether something wrong actually occurred. (Seriously, they're a child molester, do you really think they play fair?)

Schools & administrators have to walk a frustratingly fine line because they open themselves to legal action if they rush to act and a teacher's reputation is damaged. Some kids will use an accusation to get back at a teacher or staff member for a poor grade, perceived slight etc. making it even harder to convict/discipline those who do commit crimes.

I know it is too horrible to imagine, but odds are that your child or one of their friends has been abused, usually by a relative, family friend, or teacher/coach.

 

[skye]

Are you saying that these allegations have gone on for years? Is the school change that you are referring to when he switched from Butler to Emerald Coast (which was actually a wing of the high school at the time)? I believe this was in 2003.

he started out at freeport. then got transfered to butler. then south walton.

 

[TheTruth]

Its sad that in order to get high ratings in the district they cover it all up.
They will be exposed very soon don't worry they all are going to get whats coming to them. as far as your daughter is concerned I would be very worried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jodiFL]

I hope that all that are involved in this discussion use the search feature and read all the ongoing threads about this man. I have been taken to task about things I have said and hope that you all read back on all the background to this...give me a moment and I will edit this post with links to ALL the threads about him

link#1..http://sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=12749&highlight=cozzie
well it seems that since the updates on SOWAL i cant seem to find all the threads about him...but I am sure that it is well known that my feelings for this person are in the open and I am not afraid to voice my opinion about him.

 

[fishhawk]

get a life

jodifl, you really need to get a life. this man was already brought to trial on the most serious charge and a jury found him not guilty of the felony charge within an hour of deliberations. they also had the opportunity to find him guilty of two lesser charges (misdemeanors) and found him not guilty. every single girl involved in this case was brought in to testify and couldn't sway the evidence. you obviously dislike this man and can't let him get on with his life. he pleaded no contest to the remaining charges to spare his family the expense of another year of trials and try to rebuild his own life, which has been smeared beyond recognition. look in the school yeabooks over the past three years and see how many pictures are in there of teachers hugging (and yes, kissing!) their students, or having other physical contact. coach cozzie was singled out because he was strict, he was a disciplinarian, and he didn't put up with a lot of crap other people would. the fact that he was a single man over 35 automatically made him suspicious in some people's eyes. hopefully someday all the testimony in his trail will be public record and ignorant people like yourself will see it for what it was. but in the meantime, keep up the b.s. and maybe someday he can slap you with a lawsuit

 

[jodiFL]

Fishhawk.....is there a reason that you feel the need to single me out of all the people that have posted on this thread? I did not start this thread and only posted a link to another one on the same subject. I did not make any personal attacks and feel that your trolling and attacking me only goes to show that YOU are indeed the one that needs to get a life.

 

[fishhawk]

Sorry, Jodi....don't mean to single you out. you just seem to be the person who persists in bringing this up. i knew coach for several years at SWHS and i know what he was like as a teacher and a coach. i also know there were a lot of students who liked him and a lot who didn't. the fact that people want to view him as some sort of sexual offender is troublesome. where was your outrage a couple of years ago when the female teacher who "allegedly" slept with student athletes quietly resigned and moved out of state? how come that was never in the NWFDN? coach cozzie has been branded for life because of rumors that people like yourself persist in rehashing or creating.

 

[seagrovegirl]

Didn't hear about the female teacher incident............how can one be outraged if we didn't know about it????

 

[NoHall]

Sorry, Jodi....don't mean to single you out. you just seem to be the person who persists in bringing this up. i knew coach for several years at SWHS and i know what he was like as a teacher and a coach. i also know there were a lot of students who liked him and a lot who didn't. the fact that people want to view him as some sort of sexual offender is troublesome. where was your outrage a couple of years ago when the female teacher who "allegedly" slept with student athletes quietly resigned and moved out of state? how come that was never in the NWFDN? coach cozzie has been branded for life because of rumors that people like yourself persist in rehashing or creating.

That's the sort of comment that makes her feel attacked, dear...

This is such a double-edged sword. KDW posted a thread about the difference between school in 1957 and now, and one of the fictitious examples was a boy who skinned his knee and whose teacher hugged him. The teacher ended up in jail and the boy in therapy.

You're right that the standards and outrage should be the same for female teachers as for male teachers, though. Even as a female teacher these days, we have to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. If a student is alone in a room with me (for tutorial, etc.) I open all the doors and blinds and try to have a male teacher pop in and out.

Although I hate to see you lash out at people on the board, it is somehow refreshing to see your loyalty to this coach. I don't know if you were a student or what, but he obviously made a positive impression on you. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as an allegation in this business. An accusation is as lethal as a conviction--an acquittal means nothing. If he truly is innocent, I hope that he will manage to rebuild his life.

 

[scooterbug44]

hopefully someday all the testimony in his trail will be public record and ignorant people like yourself will see it for what it was. but in the meantime, keep up the b.s. and maybe someday he can slap you with a lawsuit

I am sure some shyster could find a reason to bring suit, but in reality, you can't sue someone for commenting on info printed in newspaper articles and letting other folks in the community know your opinion and concerns about someone who pleads "no contest" to charges.