UPDATE, 10:10 a.m., with comment from the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A former basketball coach at West Creek Middle School has been indicted on a theft charge. He’s accused of misappropriating school funds collected for new team apparel in 2020.
After an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, the Montgomery County Grand Jury in April indicted 27-year-old Julius Colemon on one count of theft of over $1,000, according to a news release.
Colemon, who was the boys basketball coach at West Creek Middle from August to November in 2020, misappropriated a total $1,476.11 from the basketball program, the news release said.
The majority of the $1,316.10 Colemon initially collected came from players’ parents in order to purchase apparel for the basketball team, along with a $60 donation from one parent for the apparel order, the news release continued.
Although Colemon gave parents a pickup date for the apparel, it never arrived. A parent alerted the school administration to the issue, and administrators met with Colemon, the news release said.
Administrators determined that he never placed the apparel order, and Coleman was fired in November 2020. The Comptroller’s investigation began after the office was notified by school officials.
“CMCSS appreciates the stakeholders who came forward to alert school officials about their concerns and cooperated with the investigation. After conducting an internal investigation on the allegations of theft, Colemon was terminated on Nov. 16, 2020, due to the findings,” said Anthony Johnson, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System spokesman.
“Following district protocols, CMCSS reports allegations of theft to the Comptroller’s Office and fully cooperates in all investigations,” Johnson said.
Comptroller investigators also found that Colemon collected money from parents to pay rental fees for two private practices in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Colemon cancelled the second practice and failed to refund the $100.01 to parents, the release said.
Additionally, Colemon did not turn over the $1,476.11 that he collected to the school bookkeeper for deposit. One of Colemon’s family members later reimbursed the school $1,128.05 for the apparel order; however, a shortage of $348.06 remains, the news release said.
“State law requires school employees to turn over collected money to the school to be deposited in the appropriate school account,” Comptroller Jason Mumpower said in the news release.
“Schools must also ensure that employees accurately document collections by using prenumbered receipts, collection logs, or other appropriate documentation.”
According to court records, Colemon’s arraignment is scheduled for May 9.