Overview

• Alexander E. Cohen, a former volunteer wrestling coach at Deerfield High School, is charged with 10 felony counts of possessing child pornography, allegedly depicting children being sexually assaulted.
• Cohen, who served as a volunteer coach during the 2018–19 and 2019–20 school years, passed background checks at the time and remained listed in school materials until 2023 despite no longer coaching after 2020.
• District 113, which was not notified by law enforcement but learned of the charges through court records and media reports, has emphasized that no criminal activity is alleged to have occurred during Cohen’s coaching tenure.
• A judge ordered Cohen to remain in pretrial detention, denying his attorney's request for release to seek mental health treatment; a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2025.
• The district has activated a tip line and urged anyone with additional information to come forward, while also offering counseling support to students and families.