CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - Football coach at Hermitage High School has been charged with embezzlement from his time at L.C. Bird High School.
https://www.nbc12.com/2019/08/22/fo...rG0xlbNerNcAv28g9pGIHLl_NBe7RV0cbbmh3P5gvLHhM
BREAKING NEWS ::
- Thread starter EPJr
- Start date
CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - Football coach at Hermitage High School has been charged with embezzlement from his time at L.C. Bird High School.
https://www.nbc12.com/2019/08/22/fo...rG0xlbNerNcAv28g9pGIHLl_NBe7RV0cbbmh3P5gvLHhM
CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - Football coach at Hermitage High School has been charged with embezzlement from his time at L.C. Bird High School.
https://www.nbc12.com/2019/08/22/fo...rG0xlbNerNcAv28g9pGIHLl_NBe7RV0cbbmh3P5gvLHhM
This news brings up a ton of questions, especially with WTVR6 reporting that he is on administrative leave...
Will Bedwell be on the sidelines for the first game of the season next Friday? Will he be on the sidelines at all this season for the Panthers?
Who will be coaching Hermitage in his absence?
What kind of impact will this have on a Hermitage program that after the disaster of last season seemed poised to bounce back?
How does LC Bird tell the story of Bedwell given what he stands accused of?
What does this mean for his legacy within the region?
Will the VHSL get involved?
Could this hurt the Skyhawks program at all?
So many questions come to mind and more are sure to come as this story unfolds over the weeks and months ahead.
While it is bigger than football, it is a story that will have great impact in the history and story of football within the 804.
So many questions, Danny. And each answer will bring even more questions.
The one fact we do know, is that this is not what the kids at Hermitage needed.
You literally can't make this stuff up. Incredible turn off events. Poor Hermitage they can't catch a damn break.
You really do have to feel for the Hermitage kids. Here is a group of young men with all the optimism in the world knowing that a state champion coach is coming to coach them and help them be better players and perhaps get to that next level... if nothing else they will be an improved team but now they face as much uncertainty as they faced this time last year.
When I heard the news I said the exact same thing. I honestly hurt for the kids at Hermitage. After last years debacle they bought in and busted their tails to get better only to have the rug ripped out from under them.
Coaches are not Gods, but because they are held in such high esteem it often causes kids to lose trust in the adults they depend on. The man is innocent until proven guilty, but I can bet you money Bedwell was given an opportunity to make this right. No one in Chesterfield would want to ruin the legacy of LC Bird football or stain the school.
Prayers go out to the Hermitage Panthers. Let me not forget Coach Taylor's and the current Bird team. I am sure this has them reeling too. Keep grinding!
Coaches are not Gods, but because they are held in such high esteem it often causes kids to lose trust in the adults they depend on. The man is innocent until proven guilty, but I can bet you money Bedwell was given an opportunity to make this right. No one in Chesterfield would want to ruin the legacy of LC Bird football or stain the school.
Prayers go out to the Hermitage Panthers. Let me not forget Coach Taylor's and the current Bird team. I am sure this has them reeling too. Keep grinding!
Navy I sure hope you are right and they did give him a chance to make things right. Hard to imagine they wouldn’t. I suppose it is what it is, but is it bad that I am somewhat relieved it is just football equipment and not straight personal cash? If it was over equipment it seems like this could have been settled out of the press. I hope this isn’t spilt milk over him leaving for Hermitage. I really hope it is just a big mix up but time will tell.
A week before the season though? They didn’t realize this until just now? What is going on here? Seems awful “X girl friendy” to me.
Hopefully, this is a wrong assumption on my part, but this must be the tip of the iceberg. I don't think they would have opened this can of worms if it could have been fixed very simply by getting the equipment back to Bird. It smells of something more than just this.
Based on my experience, I honestly don't think vengeance is involved at all. Once they discovered the missing equipment I am sure LC Bird requested he return the said item(s). The article says the missing property was returned, so I tend to believe Bedwell was given the opportunity to come clean and refused.
I could be way off, but based on the value and statements made I tend to believe it was tech stuff (video/tablet/cameras). Easy to inventory/track (serial #'s) and sorely missed by the current coaching staff this time of year.
It's all speculation, but again I just cant imagine anyone at LC Bird going after Bedwell. A good thing to remember in situations like is something we have always been told "the spanking is always worse when you lie"!
I could be way off, but based on the value and statements made I tend to believe it was tech stuff (video/tablet/cameras). Easy to inventory/track (serial #'s) and sorely missed by the current coaching staff this time of year.
It's all speculation, but again I just cant imagine anyone at LC Bird going after Bedwell. A good thing to remember in situations like is something we have always been told "the spanking is always worse when you lie"!
I thought the same. If the items were returned why make it a public media thing afterwards. Not excusing him, but items returned and plus all of the state championship runs provided LC Bird more than $5,000.
The Felony still has to go on his record. Possibly getting any negativity in the open so as to not bite them in the ass. I’m hoping it doesn’t cost him his job,but it may.
Talked to my Dad about it who is a former school board member and current lawyer, and his comment "Still a felony, even if you give it back you took it". Wild to think about because I have seen this happen with school personnel a ton! From taking calculators from one school to another, to printers, computers, etc.
Seems like there has to be some component of misunderstanding to this story doesn't it? Though I hear what @knightfan64 said and I can see that happening more often than I would have thought. I wonder if we will find out that the funds for this equipment purchase came from a donation that Coach Bedwell thought he controlled and not the school? Speculation is not worth anything, but I hate to see a legend tarnished and I hate its effect on the Herm program.
He kept Bird relevant in football for several and brought them 3 straight state titles and this is how they repay him. It's not like he stole money from school, he earned that equipment. Feel bad for the Hermitage kids but Bird deserves everything they get from this point. I'm a HSHS guy and this is simply ridiculous
"He kept Bird relevant in football for several and brought them 3 straightstate titles and this is how they repay him." He earned that equipment?
There's a right way and a wrong way to get equipment for your new team. Writing purchase orders for a Henrico Co. school on a Chesterfield County's account would not be the right way. Even if he gave it back after the fact, he would have still "dirtied his hands" and then tried to cover his tracks.
It's so wrong in a few different ways. It was reported, then investigate. It appears they have found enough evidence to indict him for the crime. It is a shame, no doubt!
ITT people so warped about football they advocate stealing from taxpayers.
thank you sir:
I was not gonna to be as tactful with your fellow Springer. The fact that he won football games is irrelevant to this conversation. Unless the lesson to the kids is win at any cost, but win and we will wink at your stepping across the line.
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A mistake, a slip up, a lie, a crime, a felony..., are we not responsible to answer for our behavior?
Folks, remember this, the reason the United States system of justice is the best in the world is because of checks and balances, and the right to be judged by your peers.
A grand jury, (empaneled at random from all walks of life), was presented the evidence against Coach Bedwell. If there was a serious doubt that a crime had been committed, the jury would never have voted to return a "true bill", (indictment).
A grand jury has power that is far reaching, absolute, and unfettered by the legal maneuvering and influence of investigators and police officers, lawyers and judges. Keep these facts in mind when you consider if Coach Bedwell has been treated unfairly.
Coach Bedwell will have his day in court, but in my opinion he is already guilty of serious breech. He has let the kids down at Bird, and especially at Hermitage. Even if he is found not guilty, he has put himself in a position that has led to him not being there to coach the kids that really looked up to him.
Call me judgmental, but I've already convicted him of letting his team down.
Folks, remember this, the reason the United States system of justice is the best in the world is because of checks and balances, and the right to be judged by your peers.
A grand jury, (empaneled at random from all walks of life), was presented the evidence against Coach Bedwell. If there was a serious doubt that a crime had been committed, the jury would never have voted to return a "true bill", (indictment).
A grand jury has power that is far reaching, absolute, and unfettered by the legal maneuvering and influence of investigators and police officers, lawyers and judges. Keep these facts in mind when you consider if Coach Bedwell has been treated unfairly.
Coach Bedwell will have his day in court, but in my opinion he is already guilty of serious breech. He has let the kids down at Bird, and especially at Hermitage. Even if he is found not guilty, he has put himself in a position that has led to him not being there to coach the kids that really looked up to him.
Call me judgmental, but I've already convicted him of letting his team down.
I had to carefully place my words in this case too. I could've blasted him with no problem! I think in Bedwell's case, it sounds pretty clear on just this part with the purchase orders for the equipment and the equipment winds up at Hermitage HS! He was charged with 2 counts. I wonder if the 2nd charge was something other than the equipment? It's certainly not over! if in fact he is found guilty, he'd done as a High School Teacher and Football coach. To me, it reeks! I think he knew exactly what he was doing and didn't expect to get caught....
Chesterfield County police said Bedwell — whose 203 football wins are fifth-most in the Richmond area and the most among active coaches — used school purchase orders to buy about $5,600 worth of equipment that he took with him when his employment with Chesterfield County Public Schools ended after the 2018-19 school year.
Chesterfield police Sgt. Christopher Cutshaw declined to provide an inventory of the items but said they are related to the football program and are used by players and coaches. He said the items had been purchased through Bird between March and June of this year.
https://www.richmond.com/news/local...cle_4609a8b5-bbf2-5556-be15-15e98976303c.html
Chesterfield police Sgt. Christopher Cutshaw declined to provide an inventory of the items but said they are related to the football program and are used by players and coaches. He said the items had been purchased through Bird between March and June of this year.
https://www.richmond.com/news/local...cle_4609a8b5-bbf2-5556-be15-15e98976303c.html
