Phoenix Ex-Teacher Seeks End to Lifetime Probation

Jacobson pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old student nearly 20 years ago and is now asking a judge to terminate his lifetime probation.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Nearly two decades after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old student, a former Phoenix-area elementary school teacher and youth soccer coach named Josh Jacobson is asking a Maricopa County judge to end his lifetime probation. Jacobson has completed the required treatment and claims he has developed the necessary life skills to live independently, but prosecutors and the victim argue that his refusal to undergo state-ordered sex offender risk assessments in recent years is a major red flag and that he should remain under supervision.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate in Maricopa County over how closely sex offenders should be monitored, how risk is evaluated, and what long-term protections survivors should expect from the criminal justice system. The judge's decision will affect not only Jacobson's day-to-day life but also set precedents around probation terms for sex offenders.

The details

Jacobson pleaded guilty in 2007 to sexually abusing a 12-year-old student and accepted a deal that gave him nine months in jail and lifetime probation. The victim, Kayleigh Kozak, has since become a high-profile victims' rights advocate and helped push through "Kayleigh's Law," which allows survivors to seek lifetime no-contact protections. Prosecutors argue that Jacobson's refusal to undergo state-ordered sex offender risk assessments for the last four years undermines his plea to end supervision, and Kozak urged the court to keep probation in place, saying "I will never be given a second chance from the things that he chose to do to me."

  • Jacobson pleaded guilty in 2007.
  • Jacobson has been under lifetime probation for nearly 20 years.
  • Jacobson refused state-ordered sex offender risk assessments for the last 4 years.

The players

Josh Jacobson

A former Phoenix-area elementary school teacher and youth soccer coach who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old student in 2007 and was sentenced to 9 months in jail and lifetime probation.

Kayleigh Kozak

The victim of Jacobson's abuse, who has since become a high-profile victims' rights advocate and helped push through "Kayleigh's Law" to allow survivors to seek lifetime no-contact protections.

Dan Lundell

A victim advocate who called Jacobson's refusal to undergo state-ordered sex offender risk assessments a major red flag.

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What they’re saying

“I will never be given a second chance from the things that he chose to do to me.”

— Kayleigh Kozak (Arizona's Family)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge has left the petition under advisement and is expected to issue a written decision that will affect Jacobson's day-to-day life and set precedents around probation terms for sex offenders in Maricopa County.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over how closely sex offenders should be monitored, how risk is evaluated, and what long-term protections survivors should expect from the criminal justice system. The judge's decision will have significant implications for Jacobson as well as broader policies around sex offender supervision and victims' rights in Maricopa County.