Former St. Michael's softball coach accused of sexual relationship with student

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) – A 60-year-old former head softball coach at St. Michael Catholic High School has been arrested and charged with being a school employee who engaged in sex acts or deviant sex with a student, according to officials and jail records.

Leonard Anthony Rizzuto, of Daphne, was arrested Wednesday and released today from the Baldwin County Jail on $15,000 bond, records show. According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Rizzuto was released as head softball coach for St. Michael after the 2021 season.

The BCSO reports that it began investigating Rizzuto in April of this year after an allegation of a sexual relationship between Rizzuto and a 16-year-old student at St. Michael during the 2020-2021 school year while he was head softball coach. . Some of the alleged acts took place at an off-campus exercise center and at his private home in Daphne, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

Lt. Andrew Ashton says it appeared to be an ongoing relationship.

“The accusation 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,” Ashton explained.

Lt. Ashton says it was a family member who urged the victim to report 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 most of this had happened within the jurisdiction of the county, it was brought to the sheriff.”

No other victims have been identified, the BCSO said. The press release states that this case was presented to a Baldwin County Grand Jury, which indicted Rizzuto, leading to his arrest.

The Archdiocese of Mobile released the following statement on behalf of St. Michael:

“St. Michael Catholic High School is aware of the recent charges against Leonard Rizzuto, a former part-time softball coach at the school. We will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot provide additional details or comment further.”