BRADFORD, Vt. -
Scandal is echoing through the halls of Oxbow High School in Bradford this week, as allegations of sexual abuse by a coach are coming to light more than 15 years after they allegedly occurred.
Investigators say 43-year-old Brian Musty - coach of girls varsity soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams - had an on-going sexual relationship with a student between the years of 1997 and 2000.
Reactions from parents and former students range from fury to disbelief.
"Mr. Musty was arrested at school, he was escorted out of the building by myself," said Orange County Special Investigations Unity commissioner Tracy Simon.
Musty is accused of manipulating a 15-year-old student into a sexual relationship, beginning in 1997 and ending three years later when she left for college.
Those who worked the case, say it's not uncommon for abuse victims to take more than a decade to file a complaint. "That's because they finally have supports and are established and feel comfortable enough to come forward," said Simon.
"It was really surprising," said Bradford resident Jennifer Magoon, "I was a student of his for four years and to come out of the blue like this, it's wicked shocking."
Magoon attended Oxbow between 2004 and 2008 and works at the local Hannafords. She says everyone in town is talking about the allegations. "Quite a few (customers) had come in for the paper, I know a lot of our customers by name and they all came in going did you hear about the Oxbow teacher," she said.
Most of parents and residents we spoke with regarding the charges did not want to go on-camera. One parent said she doesn't buy the charges because neither of her two girls have had any issue with Musty. Another claimed she's not surprised because of the experience her children had.
Musty is currently out on a $20,000 bail. If convicted of sexual abuse, he will face a mandatory 25 years in prison.
