Volleyball coach accused of fondling 16-year-old

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A high school volleyball coach, new to metro Atlanta, is accused of assaulting a 16-year-old student.
 
Recent changes in state law mean the coach faces some serious charges that could be hard to defend against. An earlier case in Cobb County prompted a law change, making any relationships between a student and a teacher a very serious felony.

Attorney Scott Semrau is somewhat of an expert in these cases. A few years back he represented a teacher having an affair with a teenage student half his age. However, because the law at the time did not prohibit those consensual relationships, a judge dismissed all the charges. Afterwards Semrau admitted the law likely needed a change.
 
"If the General Assembly is going to look at it, I hope they think seriously about it," Semrau said about the case in 2009.
 
Based on that case, the General Assembly quickly closed the loophole, and when police arrested Kell High volleyball coach Justin Blankenbecler this week on suspicion of kissing and fondling a 16-year-old at the school, he was charged with two sexual assault felonies.
 
"Since that time the Legislature has closed that loophole, and now consent is not a defense, period," said Semrau  Friday.
 
Kell High School's website says Blankenbecler started this year as a coach and teacher. The arrest warrant says he assaulted the teen twice this week at the school and was arrested Thursday.
 
It is unclear if the coach has an attorney.
 
Semrau is not upset the law has been changed; he actually thought it was prudent, but he knows it makes the defense of teachers like Blankenbecler an uphill battle.
 
"I think the law is right. My only concern is (making sure) there are processes in place before people are arrested and before people are fired to make sure there's at least enough evidence to go forward," said Semrau.

The Cobb County School District is not commenting on the situation.

Blankenbecler bonded out of jail Friday night.