Medford High School Football Coach Indicted

Coach James Atkins is pictured at left in a photo taken last summer. Photo courtesy MedfordFootball.net.

DA Says Coach Used Chelsea Football Funds for Personal Use

Story Updated 2:53PM, Thursday, October 2, 2008

– Allison Goldsberry

Medford High School Football Coach and former Chelsea High School Football Coach James Atkins was indicted Wednesday by a Suffolk County Grand Jury for allegedly misappropriating money from the Chelsea football booster fund for personal use.

Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said Atkins, 43, of Revere, was formally charged with five counts of larceny for allegedly withdrawing approximately $10,000 from the Chelsea Football Boosters Club to use for expenses that were unrelated to team activities from 2004 to 2007. An extensive joint investigation by the Chelsea Police Department and Massachusetts State Police together with Suffolk County prosecutors revealed that Atkins used the team’s funds for personal travel and entertainment purposes.

The Chelsea Police Department began an internal investigation in 2007 into Atkins’ alleged misappropriation of funds from the booster club after parents and school officials told authorities they were concerned about the coach’s handling of money raised during fundraising events. Chelsea police conducted an investigation and based upon their findings, they referred the matter to the Suffolk County DA.

“The charges against James Atkins are serious and troubling. Atkins abused the public trust in his role as a police officer, he violated the trust of the kids who looked up to him as a mentor and a coach, and the parents who put their faith in him. Were it not for the diligence of parents and school officials, and the hard work of prosecutors and detectives with both the Chelsea Police Department and Massachusetts State Police, he may have been able to continue to pilfer funds for kids to be used for his own entertainment,” Suffolk County DA Conley said in a statement.

Atkins was head coach of the Chelsea high school football team from 2004 through 2007 and was also the president of the boosters club. As boosters club president, he had sole access to a bank account established for the non-profit through TD Banknorth.

According to the DA, in the fall of 2006, parents who were involved in fundraising efforts became concerned about Atkins’ control of the fund and complained to him. Atkins responded to the complaints by transferring control of the account to a parent, but continued to carry an ATM card for the account. Evidence indicates that he used that ATM card numerous times for unauthorized personal purchases.

The boosters club funds were supposed to be used for the purchase of equipment and uniforms for the team, and to pay for activities for the players, including pre-season football camp.

In November of 2006, parents relayed their concerns to Chelsea High School officials, who notified Chelsea Police. High schools officials did not renew Atkins’ contract when it expired in 2007 and he was subsequently hired in Medford in the summer of 2007.

Shortly after Atkins was hired in Medford, he was placed on paid administrative leave by Medford and was not allowed to coach pending the outcome of an investigation by the Suffolk County DA.

Atkins was also placed on paid administrative leave from the Chelsea Police department on Aug. 13, 2007, pending the result of both an internal affairs investigation and a separate investigation led by State Police detectives and Suffolk prosecutors.

“Charges such as these – whether committed by members of the public or police officers – are to be taken very seriously and investigated with due diligence and the utmost of professionalism. Public accountability and trust is absolutely critical to the mission of effective law enforcement,” said Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes.

The indictments come midway into the Medford High School football season and just two months after school officials announced Atkins was cleared to return as the head football coach in Medford.  At the time School Superintendent Roy Belson said no charges had been filed and that Medford has waited long enough for the situation to be resolved.

In August a spokesman for the Suffolk County DA refused to confirm or deny an investigation in the absence of criminal charges and said “there were never any charges and there aren’t any at this time.”

Medford officials are upset with how long the case has dragged on without answers or a resolution and thought the matter was behind them when they told Atkins he could coach in August.

“We’re upset that the process has ruined two football seasons for the kids,” said Medford Athletic Director Bob Maloney.

Maloney said assistant coaches Mike Marchese and Jamie Delverde will serve as interim head coaches for the team.  Atkins has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case.

Medford will still host Newton South Friday night at Hormel Stadium.  Maloney said he expects to talk to parents at the game and plans on sending out a letter to parents within the next twenty-four hours.

“We’re looking to keep the program going in a positive direction,” said Maloney.

Atkins is expected to be arraigned on the larceny charges in the Magistrate’s Session of the Suffolk Superior Court on October 22.

Timeline

August 2007- Medford High School Football Coach Under Investigation

August 2008- Atkins to Return as Head MHS Football Coach