Former Franklin Square soccer coach sentenced for raping underage player

A former coach for the Franklin Square Strikers was sentenced to up to three years in prison for having sex with an underage player on his team and soliciting nude photos of the player.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced the sentencing of Valley Stream resident Sean Johnsen, 38 on Dec. 5. Johnsen pled guilty to rape, use of a child in a sexual performance, a criminal sex act, and endangering the welfare of a child on Aug. 1 before Judge Teresa Corrigan.

“Parents entrust their children to sorts coaches and teachers every day, assuming that these professionals will care for their kids and help them grow and succeed,” Donnelly said in a news release. “This defendant exploited his position and standing in the community to prey on adolescent girls, manipulate them, and groom them into inappropriate relationships.”

Beginning in April 2020 and continuing through August 2020, Donelly said Johnsen engaged n a sexual relationship with an underage player on the team he coached. During that time, he messaged the victim and solicited nude photographs and videos.

The player was 15 years old when the conduct started.

“Today, he is held accountable for that despicable violation of trust with prison time,” Donnelly said.

Johnsen was also a teacher at Fusion Academy. He was arrested on Oc. 29, 2020 by the Nassau County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.