Perry Volleyball Coaches

[austinsm11]

Article in The Rep. today. The charges were reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. Elum was the judge and I would have loved to hear him talking to these two.

I can't believe that people would be that dumb to forge the letter. You would think that when the 8th grade coach keeps showing up to coach, someone would question why since she resigned. The 8th grade coach would say that she didn't and everything would begin to come to light. The 8th grade coach is now getting harassing letters.

It says that the 8th coach was out to ruin the program and that is why they did it. I wonder what she did to make them believe that.

I guess one of the coaches' daughters is on the 8th grade team. Very awkward. The article in the paper mentions something about a no contact order in the plea agreement.
Should she be allowed to go watch her daugher on the 8th grade team? What do you think?

[pnthrfan]

Here is an excerpt of the article and a link to the full story....

Two Perry coaches avoid jail
Saturday, August 26, 2006 BY Benjamin Duer REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER

MASSILLON - Two former Perry High School volleyball coaches avoided jail for writing a fake resignation letter in the name of another coach, but they incurred the wrath of the judge who chastised the pair as “knuckleheads.”

Keith T. Whitaker, 41, and Kristy K. Vodopich, 42, accepted a plea agreement Friday and were convicted of a lesser charge of criminal simulation, a misdemeanor. City prosecutors had charged the two coaches with felony counts of forgery.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=304225&Category=15

[Kamd50]

I think the original charges of felony forgery should have stood. Elum referring to the 2 ADULTS as knuckleheads seems to me to be lessening the seriousness of the crime they committed and is treating and talking to them like they were a couple of highschool kids. I have seen him take a far more serious attitude towards some youths when the crime was not a felony. Forgery is a serious crime and should be treated as such.

As far as the parent's attendance at the games? Absolutely no way should that be allowed! This is just another joke.

[pnthrfan]

Should she be allowed to go watch her daugher on the 8th grade team? What do you think?

I personally don't feel she should be allowed anywhere on Perry Local School's property. She chose to do what she did. No one forced her into writing that letter and signing Ms. Beatty's name. She knew what she was doing was wrong, and yet she did it anyway so, now she needs to deal with the conequences. Just like any ADULT should. Can you imagine what her daughter thinks about all of this? I swear.....people don't stop and think about others and how it may affect their lives before doing something stupid....this is a perfect example.

[werperry]

what an absolute abomination...and an embarrassment to perry schools.

regardless what the courts say...they better not have jobs in perry local schools anymore. :suspect:

[The Butler]

Stupid act, obviously. Felony, I don't think so. When I think of felony forgery, I'm thinking about someone forging documents or checks for a large financial gain. It was a boneheaded move, just like driving drunk. It takes four drunk driving charges to get one a felony.

As for not being allowed to attend games. I don't have a problem with this portion of the sentence. One of the victims here was the school sytem.

[orangenblack]

Actually, if they would have gotten the felony it wouldn't have mattered where she is teaching, she would have lost her license to teach. Keith Whittaker is not a teacher. Vodopich has the daughter who plays in 8th grade. So I guess she will have to go to the away games to see her play. Maybe she should have thought before she became a part of the crime.
Whitaker was breaking OHSAA rules in other ways too, so whatever sentence he was given he deserved.

[austinsm11]

I personally don't feel she should be allowed anywhere on Perry Local School's property. She chose to do what she did. No one forced her into writing that letter and signing Ms. Beatty's name.

I don't think she she be able to attend the games either. Very poor example set for her daughter.

I agree with Butler though. I can't see it being a felony.

[orangenblack]

Maybe you would see it as a felony if you were the person the resignation letter was written for. Last time I checked forgery IS a felony!

[longtimefirsttime]

What a mess. And through it all, it's the kids who truly suffer.

[austinsm11]

Maybe you would see it as a felony if you were the person the resignation letter was written for.
Actually I don't think that I would. I think that I would find it rather amusing that they didn't think they would get caught. Yes I think he needs to be punished, but I think a felony charge for that is a little harsh....just my opinion.

Whitaker was breaking OHSAA rules in other ways too, so whatever sentence he was given he deserved.
Not sure what OHSAA rules he broke, but I don't see how that has anything to do with criminal charges.

[DAWGH8R]

What a mess. And through it all, it's the kids who truly suffer.


The kids won't suffer !! They will get someone that DESERVES the job, and sets an example of positive things!!:cool2: