A onetime assistant high school volleyball coach in Forest Lake accused of sexually assaulting one of his players at his home said he was targeted for blackmail in connection with the allegations.
Mark R. Kosloski, 47, of Wyoming, Minn., was charged Monday in Chisago County District Court with three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving the alleged encounters spanning North Lakes Academy's fall semester in 2017.
The former North Lakes student, now 20 years old, turned over to Wyoming police on Feb. 2 what she said was a text exchange a couple of nights earlier that included Kosloski acknowledging wrongdoing after she pressed him to apologize, according to the charges.
"I'm sorry for everything I've ever done that hurt you or anyone else," reads one of Kosloski's texts to the woman, the complaint read. "I ask God's forgiveness every day for everything I've done."
However, Kosloski's attorney said Tuesday that his client denies the allegations and was threatened with blackmail unless he paid the woman's friend $5,000.
Attorney John Barragry sent to the Star Tribune what he said is a screenshot of a Facebook message from the friend to Kosloski that was sent before the woman went to police with her allegations.
"Mark I have screenshots from your and [the woman's] conversation last night," it began, followed by instructions on how to send the money digitally: $2,500 on Feb. 1 and another $2,500 on Feb. 8.
"If you decide not to comply, I will sending (sic) the screenshots to your wife … and then send them to your colleagues."