Nassau Coach Sentenced: He Sent Sexually Explicit Messages, Videos to a Student

A Freeport man who was a coach and attendance teacher at Richmond Hill High School in Queens was sentenced Friday to a term of two to six years in prison following his conviction for attempted use of a child in a sexual performance and other charges.

Luis Rodriguez, 45, engaged in sexually explicit communications with a 15-year-old student between October 2014 and November 2014.

"The defendant was a trusted coach and teacher," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. "He was someone whom parents believed their children would be safe with. But this defendant violated that trust. This coach used an extracurricular school activity to prey on this young victim. This case should serve as a clear and unmistakable warning that law enforcement will arrest and prosecute sexual predators. This defendant is now going to prison as punishment for his actions and to protect society."

Rodriguez was convicted in December 2016 of attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors and endangering the welfare of a child.

At various times between Oct. 1, and Nov. 7, 2014, Rodriguez texted or used the FaceTime video chat feature on a cell phone to send sexually explicit messages to a 15-year-old female student. During these conversations, Rodriguez told the student that he wanted to engage in sexual intercourse and have oral sex with her. He also sent a video message to the student’s cell phone showing himself masturbating.

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