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Former Noble Academy Student Alleges Sexual Assault by Middle School Basketball Coach, Amanda Polzner | Attorney Commentary

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Former Noble Academy Student Alleges Sexual Assault by Middle School Basketball Coach, Amanda Polzner | Attorney Commentary


Ohio Middle School Coach Accused of Sexual Assault

A former teacher and basketball coach at Noble Academy Cleveland located at 1200 E 200th St, Euclid, OH 44117 is now facing serious accusations of sexually abusing a student. The alleged victim, now an adult, claims the abuse began when she was just 14 years old and playing on the school’s basketball team, according to Cleveland19.

Amanda Polzner: Teacher and Athletic Director Under Fire

Amanda Polzner, 34, previously served as a math teacher and athletic director at Noble Academy. She was dismissed in December following the allegations, which became public after her arrest that same month. Despite the gravity of the situation, the school waited six weeks to inform parents, prompting widespread outrage.

Parents Outraged Over Delayed Communication

The delay in notifying parents has left many families angry and concerned. Gewaun Alexander, a parent at Noble Academy, criticized the school’s lack of transparency.

“They really, really did drop the ball this time,” Alexander said. “I’m very disappointed, angry, and I’m also nervous because this is serious. You guys waited until everybody else found out to even try to send out an email.”

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Harrowing Details of the Alleged Abuse

The victim reported to police that the abuse spanned two years, starting in 2017, and occurred in multiple locations. These included the back of a school bus during basketball trips, the school locker room, and even Polzner’s home. The victim also revealed that some incidents took place during team sleepovers hosted by Polzner, including one assault in a basement.

She described feeling coerced due to the special treatment she received, such as gifts and food not provided to other team members. Fear and a close relationship between her family and Polzner prevented her from coming forward at the time.

Polzner Faces Multiple Felony Charges

Polzner is now facing several felony charges, including unlawful sexual contact with a minor. While she remains out on bond, her next court appearance is scheduled for January 28.

Parents Question Noble Academy’s Commitment to Safety

Parents like Alexander are now questioning the school’s ability to protect students. “We would never just think that this would even transpire. It’s just unbelievable. The school is not to be trusted at this point,” he said.

Noble Academy has stated that no evidence suggests other students were involved or that incidents occurred after 2019. However, the school’s delayed response has left many questioning their protocols for handling such serious allegations.
As the case moves forward, the school is under increased scrutiny from parents and the broader community. While they claim to prioritize safety, their handling of this incident has raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the school system.

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Ohio Attorney Explains Legal Options for Victims of Sexual Abuse by School Coach

Survivors of school sexual abuse and their families often feel uncertain about the steps they can take to address the harm they’ve endured. When abuse occurs in a school setting, the path to accountability can seem even more complex. In a recent conversation, Ohio sexual abuse attorney John Bey shared his knowledge on the legal rights available to victims and their families, how schools can be held responsible for negligence, and the importance of acting within the law’s time limits.

Editor Darla Medina: Thank you for joining us. Many parents are understandably outraged over this case. What legal options are available for survivors of sexual abuse, particularly when the abuse occurs in a school setting?

Attorney John Bey: Thank you for having me, Darla. Survivors of sexual abuse have the right to pursue both criminal and civil actions. Criminal charges, such as those already filed in this case, are pursued by the state to hold the perpetrator accountable. However, civil lawsuits give victims and their families an additional avenue for justice, allowing them to seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and psychological damage caused by the abuse.

Medina: What role does the school play in these types of cases? Can the institution itself be held responsible?

Bey: Absolutely. In cases like this, schools have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for their students. If it can be proven that the school was negligent—whether by failing to properly vet employees, ignoring warning signs, or delaying appropriate action—they can be held liable in a civil lawsuit. This can include claims for negligent hiring, supervision, or retention of staff.

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Medina: For families who may feel overwhelmed, what steps should they take if they suspect or discover abuse has occurred?

Bey: The first step is to ensure the safety of the child and report the abuse to law enforcement. From there, it’s important to consult with an attorney who specializes in sexual abuse cases to understand your legal rights. An attorney can help navigate the complexities of the civil process, gather evidence, and file a claim against both the perpetrator and any negligent parties. Time is a critical factor, as Ohio has statutes of limitations for filing these cases.

Medina:  How does the statute of limitations affect these cases, especially for survivors who may not come forward until years later?

Bey: Under Ohio law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse now have until age 30 to file a civil lawsuit against their abuser. For cases involving schools or institutions, different time limits may apply, which makes it even more important to consult with legal counsel promptly. There are also exceptions in certain cases where evidence of negligence or new discoveries can extend the timeline.

Medina: What advice would you give to parents who are concerned their school isn’t being transparent or proactive in protecting students?

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Bey: Parents should demand accountability. If they feel the school is not addressing their concerns, they can escalate the matter to local authorities, file a formal complaint with the school board, or even consider legal action. Transparency and proactive measures are non-negotiable when it comes to student safety. An attorney can also help investigate whether the school has a history of negligence or similar complaints.

Take the First Step Toward Accountability

If your child has been sexually abused by a coach or school staff member, you don’t have to face this difficult journey alone. Our experienced legal team is here to guide you through your options, hold negligent parties accountable, and fight for the justice your family deserves. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward protecting your child’s future.

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Cleveland19



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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Browns News and Rumors June 22, 2026: Not Just Org Chart Noise

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Cleveland Browns News and Rumors June 22, 2026: Not Just Org Chart Noise


CLEVELAND, Ohio (TheOBR.com) Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!

There are mornings when I sit down at this keyboard, look at the Browns quarterback discourse, and wonder whether I should have gone into a more stable line of work. Such as selling timeshares from inside an office that has been lit on fire. Because here we are in late June, with no pads, no preseason games, no live pass rush, and apparently everyone from television personalities to team-adjacent announcers to webdorks like me has solved the Browns quarterback battle. That’s 90% of the news items out there this morning.

But I don’t care, and look on that endless speculative churning as simply being noise at this point.

One story that matters this morning is Andrew Healy leaving Cleveland for Minnesota, which I wrote about several days ago. He’s joining the Vikings as an assistant general manager.

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If your first reaction was, “Okay, front-office guy changes jobs, wake me when someone throws a slant,” I get it. Executives mostly become famous when something goes wrong, which is a cruel system, but, hey, I didn’t design the planet. I just live here.

But Healy’s departure is a real loss. Alec Lewis’ Athletic reporting had two quotes that should get your attention. Browns offensive analyst Dom Borsani called Healy “a little bit like a unicorn,” because he combined research background and technical aptitude with a traditional scouting lens and an understanding of coaching schemes. Former Browns senior software developer Zach Zelinsky, now with the Arizona Diamondbacks, called him “probably the smartest guy I’ve worked with in sports.”

That’s not normal praise. That’s not “great teammate, first guy in, last guy out” boilerplate. This is people inside the machine saying the Browns just lost one of the people who helped connect the spreadsheet world to the football world. And that matters because the modern NFL is not analytics versus scouting anymore — or at least it shouldn’t be. The good organizations are the ones where the numbers people understand what the scouts are seeing, the scouts trust that the numbers can challenge their assumptions, and the coaches don’t throw the laptop into Lake Erie.

Healy’s Sloan Sports Analytics bio says that, for the last five years, he “led the integration of data and advanced insights into all parts of football operations.” It also says he started with the Browns in 2016 as Senior Player Personnel Strategist, helping to develop methods for valuing players, making game decisions, and evaluating draft assets. Before that, he created projection systems for Football Outsiders, and before that, he was an economics professor with a Ph.D. from MIT. So, yes, he is smarter than your humble webdork. This is not a high bar, but still.

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So, naturally, I was worried about this and did what I always do when I’m looking for common-sense answers: I talked to Lane. He let me know what he “was told all the systems have been in place, with others handling the process. It doesn’t feel like they are overly concerned with his departure. As they have told me previously, you never like to lose assets, but you plan accordingly.”

The Browns still have Andrew Berry. They still have people in the research department. This is not a one-man shop collapsing because the smartest guy took his stapler to Minneapolis. But when you lose Paul DePodesta to the Rockies and Healy to the Vikings in the same general era, you lose institutional memory, decision-making frameworks, and the people who knew why certain models were built the way they were. Don’t expect the loss of the two to indicate much about how the Browns use analytics – it hasn’t fallen out of favor or suddenly joined Maurice Carthon’s playbook in the annals of football history.

This is the type of stuff fans don’t see until two years later, when the draft board feels different, the fourth-down decisions get twitchy, or the team suddenly stops finding value in places it used to find value. Maybe Berry replaces that brainpower cleanly. Maybe the remaining group steps forward. Maybe the Browns are fine. But losing a “unicorn” from a front office is like losing a left guard: nobody talks about it until the pressure starts coming up the middle.

Have a good one! GO BROWNS!

Newswire Bloviation Archive

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OBR GOODIES

OBR ARTICLES

  • Cleveland Browns News and Rumors June 21, 2026: Fighting for Football Lives
  • Rookie Year Expectations For The Cleveland Browns 2026 Draft Picks – Day Two

FROM THE FORUMS

INSIDER DISCUSSION (VIP)

  • Cleveland Browns News and Rumors June 21, 2026: Fighting for Football Lives

THE WATERCOOLER

THE LIFT

Positive news from the world of sports and beyond…

Space.com reports that scientists are drawing up a research blueprint to examine whether warming Mars is actually feasible — not because anyone should be selling lakefront property in Olympus Mons by Thursday, but because the work could help humanity understand what sustainable habitats beyond Earth would require. University of Chicago geophysical scientist Edwin Kite told Space.com, “We do not yet know enough to create a biosphere from scratch,” which is both humbling and oddly comforting. We can’t even get everyone to agree on the Browns quarterback depth chart, but sure, let’s keep the option open for Mars.

WRAPPING UP

When not trying to identify the precise moment quarterback analysis becomes interpretive dance, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.

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Cleveland, OH

3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide

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3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide


Three people are dead after a double murder-suicide in Lakewood.

Police said a man called his ex-wife early Sunday morning, saying he shot two people at a home on Chesterland Avenue.

According to investigators, the man threatened to shoot himself.

When officers arrived at the scene, they saw a man in a truck speeding away.

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Police chased the truck until it stopped on Warren Road.

The 45-year-old man exited the vehicle with a gun to his head and shot himself moments later, police said.

Police found 35-year-old Richard Eastin and 33-year-old Amanda Wakut dead inside the kitchen of the home on Chesterland Avenue.

The investigation is ongoing.





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Cleveland police investigate fatal shooting; man detained

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Cleveland police investigate fatal shooting; man detained


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Officers from the Cleveland Division of Police Fourth District responded to the sound of gunshot Saturday evening.

According to police, officers were in the area of the 3200 block of E 93rd Street when they heard gunshots around 8:30 p.m.

Officers responded to the area and located an adult man with gunshot wounds.

They immediately began to provide first aid until EMS arrived.

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When EMS arrived on scene crews continued care and transported the man to the hospital.

Police said during the course of the investigation, officers identified and detained a 33-year-old man.

Officers also located two firearms and several casings from the scene.

The victim was treated at the hospital, but was later pronounced dead by hospital staff.

The Cleveland Police Homicide Unit is investigating the incident, and no further information is available at this time, police said.

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Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.



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