Lassiter students rally behind educator
by Brandon Wilson
bwilson@mdjonline.com
December 24, 2009 01:00 AM | 3400 views | 18 18 comments | 22 22 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Lassiter High School senior Deidre Wilks stands in the middle of Shallowford Road in front of the school Wednesday holding her sign in support of Coach Frank Robinson, who has been charged with sexual battery of a student. <br>Photo by Samantha Wilson
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EAST COBB - Frank Robinson, the Lassiter High School counselor and assistant girls basketball coach who is accused of inappropriately touching a 17-year-old female student in his office, has refused to resign, said Jay Dillon, spokesman for the Cobb County School District.

And he has a lot of support from students who wholeheartedly believe he is innocent. About 30 students stood out front the east Cobb high school Wednesday afternoon holding signs in support of Robinson, 45.

According to Robinson's arrest warrant, the female basketball coach "did intentionally make physical contact with the intimate parts of the body of a 17-year-old female without her consent" around 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 8. The warrant states Robinson fondled the student over her clothes, during which, she backed away and asked what he was doing.

Cobb Sgt. Dana Pierce said a parent of the student called police, and Robinson turned himself in on Saturday. Based off interviews, Pierce said, Robinson was arrested and charged with sexual battery. He posted a $5,000 bond later that day and was released from jail.

However, a number of students and parents say Robinson is innocent.

Standing outside Lassiter on Wednesday afternoon, Deirdre Wilks, 17, said she was gathering with others to show support for her counselor.

"We believe these allegations are not true in any way," the Lassiter senior said. "He's just a stand-up man who would not do that."

Morgan Hutson, 18, also a senior at Lassiter, started the Facebook.com page, Frank Robinson is Innocent, which had 876 members as of Wednesday night. She joined her fellow students in holding signs of support on Shallowford Road.

"He's my basketball coach," she said. "When I heard these allegations, I knew they were false."

She said Robinson never closes the door when he brings a female student inside "for this reason."

Bryce Wieland, 20, a 2007 graduate of Lassiter, said he got in trouble "a lot" as a senior and Robinson helped him through.

"He's one of the best guys I've ever known - a great man."

Robinson, a Lithia Springs resident, did not return a phone message from the Journal.

According to the school district, officials gave Robinson the opportunity to resign, but he has declined. State law mandates that he receive a hearing, Dillon said, which has not yet been scheduled.

The hearing, which will be in front of three school board members, will happen "as soon as we can," the district spokesman said.

"If we had a choice, he would be terminated immediately," Dillon said.

Until the hearing and a ruling by board of education, Robinson remains on paid leave, Dillon said.
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comments (18)
« for the truth wrote on Thursday, Feb 18 at 01:25 PM »
watch the evidence. There me be other females coming forward to discuss his action. Wait and see. As to the naive and ignorant students supporting him....wait until the Da's office completes their investigation so you dont face being total idiots. If you are right ..then the best to you. but wait....lets see who is willing to testify.....i believe some others are in the loop. I smell a plea bargain...
« Salem Witch Trial wrote on Friday, Dec 25 at 07:53 PM »
I hope Coach Robinson has a good lawyer, if he is innocent. Then, if CCSD fires him, then he can sue the CCSD for wrongful termination. During a civil trial, the 17 year old female cut from the basketball team can explain herself on the witness stand, under oath. He can call his own witnesses and she can call her own witnesses. His lawyer can subpoena Facebook for all entries that are on his accusers page - whether or not they were deleted, Facebook keeps all information on a server for legal reasons. Furthermore, if he is innocent and if he is terminated, then the female (and possibly her parents) can potentially be sued for defamation of character, loss of income, fraud and punitive damages. Personally, I would never be a teacher - they have to put up with so much cr*p for low wages.
« Ryan1234 wrote on Friday, Dec 25 at 12:19 AM »
"ThinkForward", the Cobb County School System might as well be out of a movie. A movie in which right is overcome by wrong countless times, and justice, equality, and fairness are overruled by the masses. The masses that are quick to judge, quick to jump to conclusions, quick to accuse.

You are the mindless one, or simply another snob out of East Cobb. There is no reason for him to resign if he did not do it. I personally believe that him not resigning shows that he's confident in the truth. Stand up for what is right, not what the masses of scared, thoughtless, indecent people stand for. You were given a brain, as were the rest of us. Use it.
« Hannibal Hamlin wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 08:59 PM »
Why resign if you can be on paid leave? Dollars to doughnuts he will resign before the hearing.
« Interesting wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 06:15 PM »
People tend to forget that the Cobb County Police have charged him with sexual battery against a female student. The police would not have charged him without evidence. There could be more students than just this one who have been inappropriately touched.
« Greg Leontovich wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 05:15 PM »
Think Forward, I went through this same nightmare scenario with Cobb County schools that Mr. Robinson is facing. Four years ago, I was falsely accused of molesting a student and also refused to resign since I hadn't done anything and had no contact whatsoever with the student. Without any evidence or even an investigation, Jay Dillon told the media I'd be terminated, which I was after the kangaroo court-style "due process" hearing. That's how CCSD operates: If a teacher is accused, the teacher is fired, no evidence necessary and no investigation conducted because that might unearth the unwanted truth (by CCSD) that a teacher could be innocent. Two and a half years later I went to trial on two charges and was found not guilty by the jury on one charge after a short deliberation. The judge directed a not guilty verdict on the other charge after the DA finished presenting his non-existent case. Did I get my job back? No. I wrote to Fred Sanderson and all the school board members twice to ask what I should have done differently to avoid this whole mess. They all continue to refuse to answer that question. CCSD wants everyone to believe that they have "ample grounds for termination" but the truth is that if a teacher is accused, the teacher is fired. I hope Mr. Robinson fights back against a Cobb County School District that preaches "Justice" and "Fairness" to the students but acts exactly the opposite. I wouldn't be surprised if the students who demonstrate for Mr. Robinson get suspended or expelled. But are there any consequences for students who make false accusations? Not that I'm aware of.
« ThinkForward wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 04:15 PM »
Some of the bloggers on here are mindless. Allegations of a school system employee inappropriately touching a student are deadly serious. Robinson would not have been given the option to resign if the school didn't have ample grounds for termination. Since he's refused to resign, he will have his due process hearing and the alleged morbid details open for the whole community. Robinson should think about his own career, resign and move on.
« shocked2 wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 03:01 PM »
I am very upset with this article and the statement of Mr. Dillon. There is no proof that Mr. Robinson did what he is accused of. Making a statement in a newspaper stating that if you had the right you would have fired Mr.Robinson immediately. That is just plain wrong. I don't recall that the case with Dr. Bynum was accused of similar things. He was just moved and promoted. This is a violation of Mr. Robinson's constituational rights. Personally, I think Mr. Robinson is a smart man, he chose to not resign. I am fearful of what this board hearing will do. Who will the three school board members be. This does not sound fair. I think we need to think before we speak. Mr. Robinson, I am sure has a family, friends and students who were very hurt by this article. I hope that if he is proven innocent that he pursues legal action. Comments like those made by Mr. Dillon are unacceptable, especially for the Spokesman of a large metropolitan area school system. Shame on you!!
« Tom Pendley wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 01:59 PM »
Mr. Dillon,

According to your statement, Coach Robinson is guilty period. Due process;which seems to be distasteful to you, happens to be the rule of law in this country. It's innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. If that is a problem for you, then maybe you should look for another line of work.

I have children in Lassiter High School, and their safety is of utmost importance to me. I would be the first to say throw him in jail IF he is proven guilty. You sir should think before engaging your mouth.
« School Advocate wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 01:36 PM »
Slow down Glover Street - seems like a competant investigtor from DA Pat Head's team needs to take a look to see both sides of the story. The accused is innoncent at this point and to ask for his career ending resigination seems out of order - at this time. The accused in the hands of the Board and judges is scary business for the poor fella - hold off until some facts are presented and cross examined under oath. I can only imagine the fear generated by the judges made up of some of Fred's Foolish Five
« Bobozo wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 01:14 PM »
Shame on you Mr. Dillion! You have taken it on yourself to be jury and a hanging judge. He may be very well innocent and you along with this girl would have done a very terrible thing to his life!
« anonymous wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 12:25 PM »
If this girl was really let go from the team, it seems like it might have a bearing on her accusation, mightn't it???

It's nice to see that CCSD has one set of rules for teachers and another for administrators. Teachers are pressured to resign immediately or be terminated; administrators get second and third chances and promotions. If the school board wants to do something useful, they might take another look at the h.r. department.
« Mad Mom wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 12:22 PM »
The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. WHY terminate him immediately, Mr. Dillon? If this kind of behavior keeps up, we will not have any MEN going into education.

However, if this incident is proven to be true, he should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
« Pat H. wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 10:14 AM »
The accusation of just one student, without corroboration, indicates that this just may be a false accusation. Tne accuser needs to be investigated as well - to see whether she is doing this out of some kind of vendetta.
« LawPatrol wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 09:47 AM »
"If we had a choice, he would be terminated immediately," Dillon said. Fortunately, in the U.S.A., the Rule of Law states that no one shall be punished or sanctioned until they have had the opportunity to present their side of the story. This Dillon person is nothing more than an egotistical moron, who responds with a knee jerk reaction for his own gratification. I wish Mr. Robinson the very best, if after the hearing, no evidence to support the allegations against him is presented. LP
« Kim Huffman wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 08:36 AM »
Innocent until proven guilty!, that's in the American constitution, and to face your accuser..but no, not here. The allegation alone can sink you. What if a 17 year girl decided to accuse the principal of such an act, or a visiting school board member...would they be dismissed as soon as possible?, get the facts out. On one hand, Pat Head's DA's try to show that 17 year old high school females can't make decisions, then, suddenly they have the ability to accuse and destroy a teacher without a trial or hearing....sad day in American justice.
« CCSD Wrong wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 08:34 AM »
Toobad that this girl was let go from the team and decided to make up a story. CCSD wants him to resign with out any proff anything occurred. This girl posted comments on her facebook page that she was going to be on the news and bragging about this. This is the problem with kids today. If they don't get what they want, just lie. All of his students are rallying behind him and have made it clear that he NEVER closes the door. It is students like this disturbed girl that can ruin someones life. Not every teacher who is accused is guilty!
« anonymous wrote on Thursday, Dec 24 at 08:19 AM »
Why is he being asked to resign before any outcome of a trial? Whatever happened to presumed innocent? Right now its just one person's word against another.