Ken Stopkotte, who resigned as head coach of Fishers High School after falsifying swimmers times this summer is now accused of stealing nearly $17,000 from the local YMCA.
Police in Tennessee have arrested Stopkotte on eight counts of felony theft from Hamilton Southeastern Schools.It all started when Stopkotte made a deal to rent out the pool at Fishers High School, which investigators say, he never had the authorization to do.
Since 2006, the Fishers YMCA had been paying $6,000 a year to use the Fisher’s High School pool. The only problem is the district never received any of those funds nor did they know that the pool was ever being used in the first place.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Stopkotte charged the YMCA $500 a month rent for approximately four years. But on at least three occasions that amount was doubled to $1,000 a month.
At least $16,950 was deposited into multiple bank accounts, at multiple banks.
The scam came to light after Stopkotte resigned as the swim coach after admitting to falsifying swimmers times this summer and the YMCA was left wondering who to pay their rent to.
Hamilton Southeastern Schools issued the following statement to Fox 59 News:
“We understand the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office has charged former Fishers High School Aquatic Director Ken Stopkotte with eight counts of theft. Stopkotte resigned from his position with the high school in August.
We discovered the potential theft in the course of our investigation that led to his resignation. We reported our concerns to the Fishers Police and, since that time, we have cooperated fully with the investigation.
We understand the charges stem from his use of our swimming pool and aquatic facilities for his own benefit. We are reviewing our procedures to see if they adequately protect the school district. As we have said before, we are disappointed when a person who serves in a position of trust in our school district does not uphold the highest standards of conduct and character.
We appreciate our local law enforcement’s investigation of this concern and support the judicial process.”
