A former head softball coach in Baldwin County, Alabama, was arrested and charged with being a school employee who engaged in a sexual act or deviate sex with a student.
According to officials and jail records, 60-year-old Leonard Anthony Rizzuto of Daphne was arrested Nov. 6 and released the next day from the Baldwin County Jail on $15,000 bail.
Rizzuto was relieved of his position at St. Michael Catholic High School following the 2021 softball season, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
BCSO reports that it began investigating Rizzuto in April of this year due to allegations of a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student at St. Michael during the 2020-21 school year.
According to the BCSO press release, the alleged acts occurred at an off-campus practice facility and at his private residence in Daphne.
Leonard Anthony Rizzuto was arrested for having sexual relations with a student
“The allegation was from a former student that they had been involved in a sexual relationship during her stay there during the 2020-2021 season while she was also playing softball and he was her coach,” Lt. Andrew Ashton explained.
Ashton also shared that one of the student’s relatives urged her to talk to authorities.
“The victim actually took it to a family member, who in turn urged her to contact the police and I believe they contacted the Daphne Police Department first,” Ashton said.
“And when they realized that most of this had happened within the county’s jurisdiction, they took it to the sheriff’s department.”
BCSO said no other victims were identified. The news release also states that the case was presented to a Baldwin County grand jury that indicted Rizzuto prior to his arrest.
As authorities continue to investigate, St Michaels offered its full cooperation, according to a statement issued by the Archdiocese of Mobile on its behalf.
‘Street. “Michael Catholic High School is aware of the recent charge involving Leonard Rizzuto, a former part-time softball coach at the school,” the statement read.
‘We will continue to offer our full cooperation to law enforcement agencies. Because this is a pending legal matter, we are unable to provide additional details or offer further comment.”