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Hernando Today

Coach's Attorney: Riggins Denies 'Allegations'

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By LINNEA BROWN

Hernando Today

Published: May 13, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The attorney for a suspended Hernando High School track coach who resigned last week amid controversy says her client vehemently denies any allegations that have been portrayed in the media.

Eric Riggins, 31, a paraprofessional and track coach, was suspended with pay last month after district officials launched an investigation. He resigned last Monday, and school board attorney Paul Carland said officials are also aware of a separate criminal investigation being conducted.

However, no formal criminal charges have been filed by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, said Tampa-based attorney Laguerra Champagne, who is representing Riggins.

Champagne said that while she cannot comment on specifics because the case is ongoing, Riggins "vehemently denies the allegations."

However, Champagne would not say what those allegations are. "I'm not at liberty to discuss those at this point, so that's why we're referring to them just as 'allegations,'" she said. "Whatever the (allegations) are that have been brought forth, they are just allegations and there have been no formal criminal charges filed."
Carland said he cannot legally comment on the case until Thursday, when 10 days have passed since the closing of the district's investigation.

Champagne said Riggins secured her firm's services in April to ensure that his rights are properly protected.

Last month, Hernando County Sheriff's Office deputies were seen interviewing dozens of Hernando High students, though at the time, officials would not confirm or deny that a criminal investigation was ongoing. Historically, the agency takes that stance when an investigation involves minors or sex abuse.
Riggins briefly worked as an aide at the STAR center, Hernando County's alternative school, and spent three seasons coaching football and track and field at Nature Coast before moving to Hernando this past season to fill the position of offensive coordinator under new football coach Rodney Byrd.

He was in the midst of his first year as boys' track and field coach at Hernando. All media attempts to contact Riggins, who lives in Brooksville, are now being directed to his attorney's office.

"He's an upstanding member of the community and he's doing as well as can be expected, given the public nature of these allegations," Champagne said.

She said she could not comment on why he resigned. Records show Riggins pleaded no contest in 1998 to a charge of aggravated assault and received five years of probation. Two years later, two charges of possession or sale of marijuana were dropped against Riggins because of a witness problem. Mobley has no criminal record in Florida.

In 2006, the Florida Department of Education cited Riggins' arrests when denying his application for certification as a coach, but later reached a settlement in which Riggins was granted certification with conditions, including a $250 fine and a letter of reprimand.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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