Warren, Ohio coach investigated for embezzlement

A Warren Local Schools coach being investigated for embezzling money from another organization has been asked to resign from his district position until the matter is settled.

The individual was hired as an assistant coach this fall before district officials were aware of an investigation into possible missing funds from a youth wrestling league the coach was formerly involved with.
The Marietta Times is not publishing the name of the man since no charges have been filed. The team only has one paid assistant position.
Warren Superintendent Tom Gibbs said asking for a voluntary resignation isn't an indication that anyone in the district believes the coach committed a crime but rather a way to keep students out of a potentially messy situation.
"We believe very strongly that someone is innocent until proven guilty and it's easy to throw false accusations around," he said. "We don't know what happened. But we had to weigh that against the level of public turmoil surrounding the situation and the fact that this is a part-time job and not the person's living. ... We want to make sure any continued employment wouldn't cause damage to the program."
If the coach decides to resign, it would likely be accepted at the next board of education meeting, Gibbs said.
He could possibly later be rehired if he's legally cleared, said Gibbs. The position pays $2,044.
Warren wrestling coach Aaron Schetter said there is only one paid assistant position on the team, and the individual asked to step down from it has already agreed to do so.
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks confirmed an investigation into "apparent misappropriation of funds from a Warren wrestling program" but would not say how many people are being investigated or whether charges are likely.
The investigation "spans back quite some time," he said.
"There is an absence of record-keeping, which makes it more challenging, and with it being a financial case it's always time-consuming to get the records and interview various people," he said. "We're continuing our investigation and when we complete it, we'll send it to the prosecuting attorney for review for indictment."
Mincks said a definite figure that might have been taken hasn't been determined but that it seems to be a large amount of money.
"It's more than a few hundred dollars," he said. "We've not established a definite figure, and we would like to have that before we present the case to the prosecutor."
Gibbs said district administrators have been questioned at least twice since last spring by officers from the Washington County Sheriff's Office about the missing funds and about two people involved with the youth wrestling league.
The league is independent from the district, although it uses school facilities, and no one from the school system oversees the management or the finances, he said.
"We have nothing to do with them; we don't consider them a booster organization," Gibbs said. "They use our facilities, but that's it."
Gibbs said after the coach was hired and Gibbs then found out about the investigation, he initially took a "wait-and-see approach" to see if there would be a quick legal resolution. The coach has no access to district money through the coaching position.
"We didn't want to rush to a decision," he said. "But we've had a lot of concern from parents, and it doesn't seem like we're going to have an answer soon, so we thought it would be in the best interest of the students to ask for the resignation until all the dust settles."
Gibbs said there are other assistants who can handle coaching responsibilities in the meantime.