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Teacher back on job after sex charge dropped

 
Published Oct. 30, 1992|Updated Oct. 12, 2005

The Pinellas County School Board has reinstated a former Dixie Hollins coach and physical education teacher after charges that he solicited for prostitution were dropped because of insufficient evidence.

Police said Tim Wiszowaty admitted in May that he paid a prostitute $30 to perform oral sex. He was arrested in St. Petersburg.

The charges were dismissed at a Sept. 16 hearing. According to Denis deVlaming, Wiszowaty's attorney, police questioned Wiszowaty when they said they saw him and an unidentified woman together in a stopped car, but did not witness any criminal activity. Therefore, Wiszowaty's admission _ and the case _ were dismissed, deVlaming said.

Wiszowaty, 32, had been suspended without pay from Aug. 13 to Sept. 29 as head baseball and assistant football coach. He was reinstated Wednesday by the School Board. Wiszowaty received back pay and fringe benefits from the school system.

He will be a permanent substitute at Meadowlawn Middle School, but probably will not resume his coaching duties at Dixie Hollins, principal John McLay said. Wiszowaty had been defensive line coach for his brother, Mark, Dixie's head football coach.

"I've been cleared by the county of any improper action," Wiszowaty said. "I was looking forward to returning to help my brother coach."

At the beginning of the school year, Wiszowaty was scheduled to be transferred to Pasadena Elementary School because of budget cuts, but he was to retain his coaching duties at Dixie.

McLay said he has not had a chance to review the case of Wiszowaty's reinstatement and would decide later whether to rehire him. "If I am legally required to keep him on, I guess I would have to do it," McLay said.

_ LIZ ROBBINS