John Anfossi, wrestling coach at Long Beach Middle School, charged with child endangerment

A veteran middle school wrestling coach is due back in court on Tuesday, charged with child endangerment stemming from an alleged incident during which police said he touched a female student "in a sexually inappropriate manner" in December.

Court records show John Anfossi, 54, of Long Beach, a coach at Lido Elementary School, was arraigned in Nassau County District Court on Jan. 28, charged with acting in a manner injurious to a child under age 17 — a class A misdemeanor. Anfossi appeared before Judge Maria Boultadakis, entered a plea of not guilty, and was released on his own recognizance, records show. A temporary order of protection also was issued.

The incident allegedly took place on Dec. 23, when, according to a statement released Friday by Nassau County Police, Anfossi is alleged to have inappropriately touched the juvenile girl during wrestling practice.

Police have not detailed the incident further; neither have school officials. It also was not clear if the girl was a wrestling team member, a tryout for the team — or, simply an attendee at the practice.

Fourth Squad detectives requested that anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Anfossi contact them at 516-573-6453.

In a statement to Newsday on Friday, Long Beach Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Gallagher said: "We are aware of the allegations involving this individual and are fully cooperating with law enforcement officials. The individual is a middle school employee and involved in the district's athletics program. The individual in question has been administratively reassigned while this matter is being investigated."

Citing the situation as a personnel matter, Gallagher said the district would decline any further comment.

In a phone interview on Friday, James Pascarella, the Mineola attorney representing Anfossi, said his client had been a respected figure in the wrestling community for decades. Pascarella, himself a former wrestler who competed for the University of Maryland and who was a Suffolk County wrestling champion at Half Hollow Hills East High School in the 1990s, said: "Basically, all I can really discuss or say is he has been a well-respected coach for more than 30 years now — and that he's never had any kind of accusation or blemish or anything alleged against him for over 30 years."

Pascarella added: "There's been a lot of support in the community, with people reaching out to him. We're confident this charge will prove unfounded."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.