Nyack College former women’s softball coach Kurt Ludwigsen has been indicted on a slew of sexual abuse charges and other allegations.
The county district attorney’s office released a news publication saying he was indicted by a Rockland County jury on third-degree sexual abuse, two counts of second-degree harassment and 94 counts each of forcible touching.
Prosecutors claim that the abuse occurred for a little more than a year between February 2014 and March 2015.
The 44-year old married father of two used to run an internet phone company under the name Kurt Vogner where the callers were linked together with stars from the adult entertainment industry.
Many of the students who attended Nyack – New York’s Christian College were surprised of the allegations. Angelo D’Amato commented saying “So sad. It’s disappointing. We put a lot of requirements and expectations especially on coaches and teachers whatever the case may be, especially that they would be held to a certain standard.”
The case is being prosecuted by Richard K. Moran, an executive assistant attorney in Rockland County.
Update: Ludwigsen has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges which include seven counts of forcible touching. He will serve probation for three years and must carry out community service. As part of the plea bargain deal, his attorney says he plead guilty in exchange for not having to register as a sex offender.
However Ludwigsen is not completely off the hook, in addition to community service and probation, he is still confronted with a civil suit. Three members of the softball team have filed suit in Manhattan federal court saying that the school did not protect them against Ludwigsen. They claim he would tell them to sit on his lap and he inappropriately touched them by licking their ears, kissing their faces, lying on top of them, and at one time he even punched one of the ladies in the breasts for batting incorrectly.
The three plaintiffs are suing for an unspecified amount of damages.
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sexual harassment is illegal.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is requested for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances, and other physical or verbal harassment of a sexual nature.
Harassment doesn’t have to be of sexual nature for it to be illegal. It may simply consist of offensive remarks about a person’s gender. As an example, it is unlawful to harass a woman by making comments that are offensive about women in general.
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