Phys-ed teacher arrested for having child porn

he was my gym teacher....

He was mt gym teacher! he was also a lot of fun...i can't believe this

This is happening all over the country. Go to www.schoolteachernews.com and click on the Scandal page. They have documented over 40 of these types of incidents since the beginning of the year. Last year they found 479 of these kinds of cases.

He was my gym teacher...seemed like a nice guy. But the thought had crossed my mind about this. He just sort of seemed a little strange at some moments, and always put the physically fit kids at the front of the locker room, right in front of his office window.

poor rossi. great guy....

Did you hear about this? This guy is/was a teacher at the Gibbons Middle School, right next to Michale's school. Scary.

i graduated in 2006 from westborough and couldn't remember if i had mr. rossi as a gym teacher... but as soon as i saw his face on the news i definitely recognized him. what team did he coach??

rossi was awesome, but to think about what goes through his head based on this is creepy now.

wow..seriously stop hating on rossi. two days ago everyone loved him and he was the same person. im not saying at all that what he did is right i think its completely wrong, but he does not need to be accused of other things, and called names. although i do not respect him as much, i do still believe that he was a good,kind guy who made a mistake. he will be missed.

I don't get how some people (not on this website) have to be so mean to him. Mr. Rossi was really nice and great, he just made some stupid mistakes. And, to Anonymous, in my class there weren't really any very fit kids in the front.

Rossi is a good guy and it's a real shame that he got into what he did. I know he'll be missed by many students.

Rossi is a great guy who made a mistake..in my class half the fit kids were up front, but he never looked out the window. Give the guy a break

my teacher, too, suprised me at first but after deeper thought it seems more believable

You can't say gym was worse with Rossi. He made it a hell of a lot better. Now that he' s not there, gym will get a lot worse. And this year I'm sure you havent felt uncomfortable changing in front of him and hes the same guy now that he was a few months ago. When we changed all Rossi did was sit in his office doing whatever, but certainly not staring at us. Every class when he saw we were ready for attendance he would come out and take attendance. Rossi's a great guy who did something stupid, give him a break

Um, do you realize we are talking about CHILD PORN?!? Regardless of how 'great a guy' Rossi may be this is more than a MISTAKE. Not only is it illegal activity, but it's CHILD porn! He HID it in his closet, even he knows there's something wrong with it. So whether or not he is 'nice', or 'did something stupid', what he did was wrong on SO MANY LEVELS. It's not 'a shame he got into what he did', it's dispicable that he made the choice to get into it and just beyond wrong. While I believe in innocent until proven otherwise, be careful if you decide to 'give him a break', what didn't happen to you may have happened to someone else

It is a shame. And it wasn't a mistake it was a federal crime, probably an international one too. Think of all the kids that were abused so he could get his kicks. Be grateful you and your family and friends weren't part of his collection.
I have to question those who think he or anyone into chid porn or child sex deserves a break.

Are you crazy! You can't be a great guy and look at child pornography! It one or the other. This is terrible. Don't you think there should be a major concern about the safety of the Gibbons students, past and present? No one knows if anything else has gone on with this guy. I too had him as a teacher, and yes, he SEEMED like a great guy. But guess what? Turns out he isn't! How can any of you ask to cut this guy a break? He probably comitted the terrible crime he's been accused of. The court documents about what he said and what the FBI found seem pretty damming. It's insane to suggest that people should be upset or think poorly of him!

Yeah it was wrong and everyone's going to be worried about it but if you were actually one of his students for two years you saw that he was a cool normal guy. Even though no one knew what was going on, he made gym so much fun and really got into the activities we played, especially dodgeball. So the main point is that we all learned something out of this and that he will truly be missed!

im a former student of rossi's too, and he was a really nice guy, and it's so upsetting/shocking about what happened, but he will still be remembered as a nice guy and a great gym teacher. and i know that we will all miss him.

concerned parent - everyone knows child porn is disgusting and wrong, yes, but, you did not have him as a teacher. he was a nice person and obviously there is something wrong with him psychologically for him to have developed this. I understand youre a parent and probably have/had a child at gibbons that had him as a teacher, however, he was not a bad person. He did his job well. He never yelled at any kid unless they did something completely inappropriate, he never picked on the unfit children or embarrassed anyone, and he set a good example for kids. I am 100% positive that he never touched anyone. yes what he did is very wrong, but like i said, not everyone is lucky enough to never develop any psychological problems in their lifetime. give him some what of a break for being a nice person and a good teacher.

I have to believe that when someone does something so heinous as this, not just once, but over and over again, he has to be sick. Was he abused as a child? Did someone do something terrible to him?

i was one of his male students and i dont give a damn if he looked at child porn as long as he wasnt making child porn movies... this guy was without a doubt the coolest teacher at gibbons im gonna miss him

I too agree that Rossi was a good guy and yes this does show that he obviously has some psychological issues to be resolved. However, I definitely do not believe that he touched any of the children he taught. He was very dedicated to his job and I could not see him doing something outside of his private home that would jeopardize it.

I too was a student of his a few years ago...it's a shame he had to do something like this. He really was a fun teacher and made P.E that much better. But facts are facts and they have the tangible evidence that he indeed did knowingly have these pictures in his closet. I would love to say let him off but this is illigal and shouldn't have been done in the first place. Its a shame if he has to go to prison because people in prison aren't very nice and child sex offenders are looked upon badly in jail. He could seriously become hurt or injured which makes me feel sorry for him.

I also had mr. Rossi and he was never anything short of a good guy. if I could say anything to him, i'd wish him good luck

I was a student of Mr. Rossi’s from 04-06 and have since stayed in contact with him. He has become a family friend who we see often at sporting events held at the school. Mr. Rossi is a good guy. Everyone has something about them that they probably aren’t proud of, something that they maybe cannot control. What Mr. Rossi was involved in is terrible and unacceptable, and it hurts children all around the world, but I have no doubt in my mind that he knew all of that. He may have fantasized or imagined things, but he would never do anything to hurt his kids. I understand concerns of parents and students who did not really know him, especially now, but I don’t think you can see it from a student’s perspective. Mr. Rossi lives for the kids that he teaches, in no other way than any other teacher dedicated to his job. He may have been a teacher, like so many others, who chose favorites, but they were not the fit guys or the pretty girls. I am neither of those two, and I came to know Mr. Rossi very well. He liked to write, and he was really good at it. He judged people fairly. He loved his job more than anything. He cared about his students, his family, his friends, and his colleagues. I know that many people are hurt by what is happening, and I know that this is never how he would have wanted it. Mr. Rossi obviously has a problem; I am not in any way excusing what he was a part of. He needs help—help that he could probably never ask for—and I understand the concerns of the community. All I’m saying is that he is still a person. He is a human being who never meant to hurt anybody. People are dealing with this in many different ways. Some people are mad, which I was at first. Putting your trust in someone who lets you down is a very hard thing to forgive. Some are embarrassed or scared, especially boys thinking about what could have but never happened. Some just feel bad. Some are unbelievably sad and disappointed, as I am now. I understand the emotions that are running through people’s minds, the hurt that they must feel. Some joke about it to ease the fear or talk bad about Mr. Rossi to make themselves feel better. I just want people to keep in mind that he is still the same person everyone knows and loves, whether they still feel that way or not. He is still the same fun gym teacher, the same loved friend, the same dedicated colleague. He is still the guy who helped me through being a kid. My mom said something to me today about a teacher who you become close to almost becoming a part of your family. Even if they do something really terrible, they are still the same person you loved before. I understand those who do not feel the same, but it is not necessary to be so malicious. Because never in his career has he done anything to warrant the rude and unnecessary comments that I have been hearing. Be mad, be sad, be disappointed. But don’t be cruel. Brian Rossi is still a person; just hope that he gets better.

he was a cool guy, but he knew this was illegal, thats why he hid it. it was horrible and he is a pedophile, but he's still a nice guy in other ways. he was friendly and funny. i hope they don't hurt him in jail.

The bottom line is Rossi committed a terrible and heinous crime, so terrible that INTERPOL had to get involved. All of you who ask to recognize Rossi as a good man are clearly jaded. What he did was an act of pedophelia and a sex crime. He IS a sex offender. It deeply saddens me that so many Westborough students have posted on this site in support of Mr. Rossi. Obviously, Rossi has several endearing traits that led his students to love him. However, his actions cannot be overlooked. Pedophiles can be ticking time bombs. Physical acts may have yet to be commited, but this doesn't rule out other crimes of this nature in the future. I urge all the past and current Westborough students out there to take the time to think about what actually happend. This crime cannot be overlooked. Young boys and girls were harmed in the making of that pornographic material. By possessing and viewing that material, Brian Rossi supported the abuse of young children. What kind of example does this set for his students? Not to mention this fact contridicts the notion that Rossi could be considered a good man. We all make mistakes, yet certain ones are unexcusable and unforgivable. Apparently, he has a psychological problem; this is further evidence that he should not be around children. Does it not frighten those who support him, that he was responsible for supervising children that were the same age as those abused in the material he Illegally obtained? The International and Federal governments are involved because this is a serious crime. Please realize that.

He was my counciler at tuning brook day camp he was really nice

I had him as a gym teacher and he was definitely one of my favorites. He was such a funny and nice guy! I don't think anybody ever dreaded going to P.E. (unless we were running the mile) because both of our teachers were so nice and made class fun. Yes, I'm totally shocked as to what he did, but I'm still always going to remember him as the coolest gym teacher ever. We're all undoubtedly going to miss him.

Brian Rossie coached my baseball team for a year in 06'. I remember him as a hilarious guy and a very nice one as well. As I was watchign the news, and i ehard Brian Rossi's name i thought for a bit and immediately jumped up and screamed "oh my god! my baseball coach was arrested." that's how surprised i was and still am. I never would've thought he would do such a sick thing. I just hope he gets out of jail safe, and maybe gets some help to become the very cool person i remembered him as. I dont ever remember him touching or feeling any boys on the team. I just looked at the team picture as well and he didn't even put his arm around anybody, his hands just behind his back with a cool friendly smile.

most of the adults who never had rossi aren't going too easy on him while his former students think he deserves a break. I can understand that the adults really care about the safety of the community, while the kids can't believe such a great guy like mr. rossi would do such a thing like this. well I'm just going to say rossi was a nice teacher, always cracking jokes and supporting the students he taught. i really feel bad for him, especially when I saw his picture where he desperately tried to cover his face with his hood, and failed, as the press took pictures. And it's not like he's some kind of sex maniac because he still felt shame and embarrassment in what he did, and I don't think he ever sexually abused anyone before. However I'm not saying he should be given a break. Child porn is illegal and he shouldn't have done what he did. And I never thought he would be the one to do something like this. I'm curious as to why he did it; did he feel alone at home or just bored or curious, etc. And really, when he does go to jail, I hope he doesn't have too rough of a time there because it would be such a loss if a great guy like him negatively changes as a result of time spent in jail

Mr. Rossi was one of the best teachers i have ever had!
and everyone whos hateing on him THAT DOESNT KNOW HIM! ur wrong. u dont know how he was like. he was a nice, and a very funny teacher. a couple days ago everyone loved him. im not saying that wat he did id right, far from that. but really people r makeing this a HUGE DEAL! i know its bad but really ten years in jail! is a lil to much dont u think?.. and really people that KILL people dont even get that long in jail.. now why does he have to say that long? i do agree that he should spend time to learn his leasson....but really i think he knows better now. and also think about it... mr. rossi is the sweeties guy ever...those ppl r going to murdder him in there.. Mr. Rossi he did lose all my respect. but i still do wish the best of him because he doesnt deserv something like this. he is still well liked to some ppl....i wish i could say that to everyone..and for those of u who r judgeing him that doesnt even know him. ur wrong! his is just a person who has made a mistake and now is paying for it the wrost way possable! he will b missed!

im shocked because being a former player of his in basketball and baseball i only have good things to say about him. He taught our team how to win and he made me a much better player.

I am a bit offended by the post made by the person calling themself "reasonable". As usual, school kids show themselves to be better, more tolerant and more forgiving people than adults. The fact that Brian might have gotten into child porn, does not take away from the good things that he did as a teacher. First of all he hasn't been convicted yet, so lets just leave that possibility that maybe things aren't going to be proved in court as they've been presented on the news based on the arrest. That aside though, and considering that he was found with damning evidence in his home, lets aside that he did get into child porn. That does not make him a horrible person. What he does in the privacy of his own home is his business. Maybe he searched that stuff out for years, or maybe he came across it accidentally and got caught up in it. The fact that he kept his hands to himself with his students, means that he had enough restraint and enough respect for his students to keep what he did to himself. Child porn needs to be illegal because it's use creates a market for something that needs to be eradicated. That doesn't mean that adults get to speculate and judge about the person because he used it. There need to be consequences so kids stop getting hurt by its creation but as Brian's students attest, you can look beyond that when you judge him as a PERSON. He is no worse than any of you out there who beat your wives, get drunk and ignore your kids, steal, or get little kids hooked on drugs. Legally, he will deal with his mistake but I hold up the middle school kids for supporting him and I look for other kids whose teachers and mentors and coaches and whoever else did them well, to rise above the judgemental adults and see them for the good that they did, especially when they kept their hands to themeslves. When you did the wrong thing, Brian held you RESPONSIBLE, but he didn't judge you, neither do your parents, neither do your other good teachers. You keep doing the same.

i had mr.rossi and i didn't know him much but he seemed like a nice man.

When I heard a teacher had been caught with child porn in our school, he was my last guess, these are simply the ways of a sociopath. I loved rossi the way he taught us, made fun of us, and cared. I do not believe he would have tried to harm any boy at are school in that way. If he is put in jail, I hope he will still be remembered as that guy who many students loved.

Griffin Bennett

I had Rossi as my gym teacher AND as my baseball coach. Someone wrote that he always put the physically fit kids in the front of the locker room which was right in fron of his office window, yes that is true. I was in the front of the locker room. He always took attendance while we were dressing for gym class as well. And on the baseball field, it seemed that if a kid was ugly, Rossi payed no attention to him. Rossi also made us measure our height and weight in his office, isn't the school nurse supposed to do that? I feel bad for Ms. R, our other gym teacher, who is the best I have ever had, and they were great friends. It is a shame to think that kids were favored in his class just because they were good looking.