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Ex-Piute High School coach charged with rape

Someone asked on the rankings blogs a couple of weeks ago what had happened to Piute's old coach. Some said he left. It looks like those of you wondering might have the answer as to why.

I really liked Lawson, seemed like a great guy who had a great family and situation. Too bad...I hope all parties involved make the best of things.

I can think of a few punishments that are appropriate for this disgusting excuse for a human being. How dare he take advantage of a troubled young woman like that?!

He better hope I don't find him before law enforcement does!

A teacher raping a student and he is out on bail? what am I missing.

Dale, you're missing: Innocent till proven guilty.

Sounds like everybody should have supported vouchers, rarely happens in private schools but sure too often in public schools.
Too bad, I hope he gets punished for his behavior.

To Oh No:

Vouchers have nothing to with anything in this situation. You are just upset they didn't pass.

Let him without sin cast the first stone. You make ME sick you better hope I don't find YOU before you find him. Lawson is not some sick old perveted 40 year old. He is still a kid himself! I am so sad this happened he is a good kid. I think he should be responsible for what happened. It is just sad to see him make such a life-changing mistake...you never know what is going on around you. His wife is a sweetie, I feel for her.

Wow, anyone remember the whole innocent till proven guilty mantra? Has he pleaded guilty, and it just wasn't written in the article? Not sayin he didn't do it, and if he did it's loathesome. Just wondering why all the acidity towards someone who hasn't even been tried?

In my opinion hes sorry he got caught, not that he did it. He was given a standing ovation the last day of school after allegations were made by yet another female student, who by the way was sitting meekly and humiliated in the audience. Her case, along with other girls that came forward with complaints, ended up getting swept under the rug. My question as a concerned parent is what the heck was the state and county school board missing then? How can we feel comfortable sending our children to an environment that supports the predator instead of the prey?

How does giving private schools more money help public schools? Or help a girl not get raped and believe me things happen in private schools the difference is that private schools handle it privately so it doesn't ruin the schools reputation... I attend Juan Diego and they do drug test... There is a reason so many kids pass, they target students they know will pass so that ppl don't think poorly of the school

You pose some good questions. Maybe some changes are in order. I know protecting my kids is my number one priority. Is it in Piute?

I feel that our school board failed the students and the parents of Piute. Had the proper steps been taken when allegations arose years ago they could have nipped this is the bud. Changes are needed desperatly in Piute and have been needed for years. We have a new superintendent and have elected some new school board members that truley seem to have the best interest of our kids in mind, but those members that sat on the board when this issue got swept under the rug should resign. They know what they did was wrong.

the parent is always right! This guy was in a position of trust..don't whitewash his actions if they are true..he belongs on the sexual predators site just like the rest of them. You don't have to victumize the victum as society so often does. He supplied the booze , he manipulated the situation so it was premeditated if true. Some times small towns have ways of covering felonious actions done by relatives or names, that has been proven! But no double standards this time to save this man. And I call him a man as my son would never pass this boundary!

Well well well how the mighty have fallen. All I can say is its about time I am so glad that he is finally going to get what he deserves.

If the school board and others swept this under the table, I can see lawsuits coming there way!

I am a old friend to him and his wife. I feel so bad for his wife I love her and she was so good to him. I hope that he gets what he deserves, because he was a role model to all of the kids in piute and as a coach all over the state. I feel sorry for his wife and hope she finds someone that will take care of her.

Amen. She too is a victim.

Hey,
I know lawson, and I'm not saying he did or didn't do it. However, I am saying this. We live in a free country God bless America, and here, Lawson is innocent until the state of Utah can prove beyond reasonable doubt that a rape occured. People have been accused of rape and then later exonorated. It wouldn't be the first time a teenage girl cried wolf about something. So lets all keep the name calling to a minimum until the state of utah proves in a court of law that a rape actually occured. These are mere allegations. A lot of time can pass in 2 years from the time of the alleged act, and the time the girl actually reported it to authorities. Her memory could be a little hazy over what actually happened. Just because the des news has an article on something doesn't make it true. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. We all deserve a fair trial, and so does Mr. Sweat. Remember that.

Good post. Lawson was my friend too and I will wait to pass judgement. I've heard different stories from people that work and go to school at Piute, so yeah, I will try not to make assumptions and judgements at this point.

I feel for all those involved, what a mess. Hope his ex-wife and little boy are OK.