Former Ramapo football coach acquitted of assaulting player

Former Ramapo High School football coach Duffman Pannell was acquitted Monday morning of charges he assaulted a player by hitting the teenager with a helmet.

Pannell lost his position as head football coach after the accusation on Oct. 21 and had been banned from the classroom.

His lawyer, David Goldstein, said Monday that Pannell was asking the East Ramapo School District to reinstate him as a teacher of social studies and economics. Goldstein said Pannell likely won't become head coach again because the position has been given to Kevin Bullock, the defensive coordinator under Pannell.

"We've been waiting almost exactly a year for this to happen," Goldstein said of Pannell to be exonerated. "We never thought of taking any type of plea bargain. We knew we were going to court to get an acquittal."

Goldstein said Pannell would not comment.

After a nonjury trial at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City, Rockland County Judge William Nelson acquitted Pannell of one felony count of second-degree assault and a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Pannell was accused of hitting then-15-year-old Brandon Girault across the head with a football helmet, opening a cut above his left eye and causing a concussion.

Girault, a 6-foot-tall linebacker, testified before Nelson, along with other players.

Girault told his family that the coach became angry because he thought Girault made a wisecrack in the huddle during a practice session and had tried to kick him, according to Jerrold Miles, an attorney and friend of the boy's family.

Girault's family has also filed a civil lawsuit against Pannell and the district.

Goldstein said Girault's testimony before Nelson contradicted his deposition in the civil lawsuit.

Goldstein said, for example, Girault offered different versions of when he threw a punch at the coach and became aggressive.

Goldstein said he believes the teenager lost credibility after his testimony was impeached numerous times at the criminal trial.

Prosecutor Richard Kennison Moran declined comment. Miles and school officials could not be reached for comment.

"We presented the evidence to the court," Moran said. "We respect the court's decision."