High school softball coach, 60, charged with having sexual relationship with student
A former softball head coach in Baldwin County, Alabama, was arrested and charged with being a school employee who engaged in sexual acts or deviant sex with a student.
Leonard Anthony Rizzuto, 60, of Daphne, was arrested Nov. 6 and released from the Baldwin County Jail the next day on $15,000 bond, according to officials and jail records.
According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Rizzuto was relieved of his position at St. Michael Catholic High School following the 2021 softball season.
The BCSO reports that it began investigating Rizzuto in April of this year over allegations of a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student at St. Michael during the 2020-2021 school year.
According to the BCSO press release, the alleged acts took place at an off-campus practice facility and at his private residence in Daphne.
Leonard Anthony Rizzuto was arrested for sexual relations with a student
“The allegation came from a former student that they had had a sexual relationship during her time there in the 2020-2021 season, while she also played softball and he was her coach,” Lt. Andrew Ashton explained.
Ashton also said one of the student’s relatives urged her to speak to police.
“It was brought to a family member by the victim, who in turn urged her to contact police, and I believe they contacted Daphne police first,” Ashton said.
“And when they realized that this had happened largely within the jurisdiction of the county, it was referred to the sheriff.”
BCSO said no other victims were identified. The press release also stated that the case was presented to a Baldwin County Grand Jury that had indicted Rizzuto before his arrest.
As authorities continued to investigate, St. Michaels offered their full cooperation, according to a statement released by the Archdiocese of Mobile on their behalf.
‘St. Michael Catholic High School is aware of the recent criminal complaint involving Leonard Rizzuto, a former part-time softball coach at the school,” the statement said.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot provide additional details or comment further.”