Image sources: Booking photo of Sean Johnsen via Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. Franklin Square Raiders Soccer Club logo via Franklin Square Soccer.
Coaches are meant to be trusted mentors responsible for creating a safe, supportive environment for young athletes to grow. When that trust is broken, and institutions fail to act, the harm can be devastating.
A newly filed lawsuit alleges that The Franklin Square Raiders Soccer Club, Inc. (“Raiders”) and the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, Inc. (“CSL”) failed to protect a young player from sexual abuse by former coach Sean Johnsen. Johnsen has since been convicted of multiple felonies and sentenced to prison. The lawsuit argues that the organizations’ lack of supervision put Johnsen in a position to abuse the victim.
Abuse by Sean Johnsen, a Youth Soccer Coach
Sean Johnsen coached the Franklin Square Strikers, a girls’ travel soccer team within the Raiders. From approximately April 2020 to August 2020, Johnsen used his role as a coach to repeatedly sexually abuse a player on the team.
The abuse occurred in Johnsen’s car, Johnsen’s car, at hotels in Nassau County, and at hotels during travel soccer trips. Johnsen also solicited explicit photographs and videos from the victim and threatened to have her killed if she told anyone.
Criminal Charges and Conviction
Johnsen was ultimately charged in a 50-count indictment and later pled guilty to:
- One count of use of a child in a sexual performance
- One count of third-degree rape
- One count of third-degree criminal sexual act
- Three counts of endangering the welfare of a child
He was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison.
The lawsuit makes clear that Johnsen would never have had access to the victim without the position he held through the Raiders and CSL. Their failure to supervise him allowed the abuse to occur.
Failures by Franklin Square Raiders Soccer Club and Cosmopolitan Soccer League
The Franklin Square Strikers was a travel team within the Franklin Square Raiders. The Raiders claim to be one of Nassau County’s largest intramural programs with nearly 60 teams and more than 700 players. Following the events described in the lawsuit, the team reportedly changed its name to Franklin Square United.
Despite rules requiring two coaches for travel soccer teams, Johnsen was often the only adult present at practices and during out-of-town trips. The Cosmopolitan Soccer League, which oversees more than 100 clubs, requires member organizations to adopt and enforce policies in order to maintain membership, including policies related to sexual abuse. Purportedly, CSL oversees the enforcement of these sexual abuse policies by member clubs.
The lawsuit alleges that both CSL and the Raiders failed to abide by their own policies, and in doing so, allowed abuse to occur.
Other Stories May Still Be Untold
Andreozzi and Foote currently represents one known survivor in the lawsuit. However, given the size of the soccer program and Johnsen’s previous unsupervised access to many young athletes, other survivors may still be suffering in silence.
If you or someone you know was harmed by Sean Johnsen or another coach in either organization, you are not alone. Legal options may still be available.
Justice on Your Terms
If you were harmed while participating in a youth sports program, we want you to know that help is available. At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of sexual abuse nationwide, with a focus on holding institutions accountable when they put children and other vulnerable individuals at risk.
We help survivors take back their power and pursue justice on their own terms. Contact us today for a confidential legal consultation.
