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GASTONIA, NC – A pair of last-minute witnesses came forward, testifying Wednesday in the trial of a former coach charged with sex abuse. The two women revealed what they saw living next door to Gary “Scott” Goins.
Rosa Elswick says she recognized one of Goins’ three accusers from school and saw him at the former wrestling coach’s house. “While Mr. Goins’ wife was there?” the prosecutor asked. “No,” Rosa Elswick replied. “From what you remember, she would not be home?” the prosecutor asked. Rosa replied, “No she would not.”
Elswick and her mother Hulda were the final witnesses in the trial. “How often would she say this to you?” the prosecutor asked Hulda. She replied, “Basically all the time.” The prosecutor asked, “Would it be just during the day? Do you know?” Hulda replied “Day, night, weekends.”
The two say they saw coverage and felt they needed to step forward. “I would bring it up, back then, to my mom, that I thought it was odd. And so when I heard about this case, I was like, ‘We gotta say something,'” Rosa testified.
The three accusers claim Goins touched them inappropriately and forced them to perform sex acts. Most of the alleged incidents happened in the late 1990s on trips or inside East Gaston High School.
Before he finished testifying, Goins expressed frustration with prosecutors. He tried to explain why he was so testy with them Tuesday. “I am frustrated. I’ve been accused of things I haven’t done, so I get a little defensive,” Goins said.
Prosecutors let Goins leave the stand without asking any more questions. “Mr. Bell, a re-cross?” the Judge asked. “I don’t have a single question,” District Attorney Locke Bell replied.
Closing arguments are expected Monday.
