This guy went 15-months branded as a thief and criminal. He was neither and some suggest this was retaliation for getting child protection into the limelight; see the press release below:
Press Release: For Immediate Release - March 7, 2012
Indiana Swim Coach Ken Stopkotte Vindicated by the Dismissal of Criminal Charges Indianapolis, IN -- March 7, 2012 -- Hamilton County prosecutors agreed to drop all charges yesterday against former Fishers area swim coach Ken Stopkotte, resulting in Hamilton County Superior Court Judge Gail Bardach dismissing the case (Hamilton County Superior Court Case No.29D06-1011-FD-005906).
Stopkotte maintained his innocence from the beginning. He refused to accept every single plea bargain offered by prosecutors and was prepared for a jury trial to prove his innocence.
Statement from former Fishers Area Swimming Tigers swim coach Ken Stopkotte: "The original allegations in the Official Affidavit for Probable Cause as signed by Fishers Police Detective Daniel Nelson led to media insinuations and statements that I "stole", "pocketed rental fees", and was charged with "felony theft". Nowhere in the affidavit did it state that I personally misused or otherwise used the nearly $17,000 in question for my own personal benefit. Rather the document refers to me depositing the money into a "private account" for Swim Club expenses.
The so-called "private account" was opened under the name of the Fishers Area Swimming Team and was used as an operating account for the swim club that paid for the high school swimming and diving team's pool equipment and to pay for stipends to Fishers High School swimming coaches. There was no theft. There were no pocketed rental fees and there was no stolen money. There was no evidence or even an allegation that I used the money for personal use. I am relieved that my good name has been restored. The financial and emotional damages to my family and I have been devastating. I will not be making any further statements," said Stopkotte.
Stopkotte is best known for having the bravery to come forward with information to assist sex abuse victims that USA Swimming covered up alleged sexual molestation by USA Swimming coaches. As a result of his outspoken criticism of USA Swimming's leadership, Stopkotte filed a successful complaint with the United States Olympic Committee alleging
retaliation.
10 comments:
This is sick. It sounds like people need to be sued!
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Getting caught for falsifying times or the media debut? Who used the other as a scapegoat for revenge? It takes two to tango, and there were quite a few dances in this relationship.
Two platitudes come to mind:
1. Two wrongs don't make a right
2. Mutually assured destruction
"Anonymous said...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"
Coach Stopkotte first spoke out against the USAS and ISIs sexual abuse policies on October 15, 2010(See the link below). USA Swimming conveniently says they didn't retaliate against Stopkotte from the 20/20 episode and they've used that statement to discredit his interview on that April, 2011 program. However, Stopkotte did go on camera as early as 10/15/2010 and was called as a witness in a lawsuit against USAS BEFORE the times issue even came up. Coach Stopkotte was threatened by the Indiana Swimming leadership and put in the crosshairs of both USAS & Indiana Swimming as early as 10/15/10 or before.
It hasn't been brought out that Ken lost everything including his job, live savings and family. I heard his marriage even crumbled from the stress of the situation and his sons quit swimming because they were picked on and humiliated.
Don't be fooled, this story has very dark clouds hovering over the USA Swimming & Indiana Swimming leadership.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/21308941/detail.html
Very well put, sir.
Thank you I am flattered.
There's two clarifications here:
1) The case was dismissed not because they didn't find sufficient evidence, or because they proved it was wrong. It was dismissed because of a bad/misleading police report filed by the school. Whether or not he actually stole money from the school wasn't proven or disproven, to my knowledge.
2) The case in question that was dismissed wasn't drawn up by USA Swimming. The severity of the timing thing was a bit harsh, but that was a whole separate incident from this. USA Swimming was not a party to this case, the school district was.
He may have gotten screwed by this case. He also may have not gotten screwed by this case. Hard to believe that the school district ran around willy-nilly accusing people of stealing $27,000. They must have had a pretty good reason.
It think the Thomas Jefferson quote applies: "Better one hundred guilty men go free than one innocent man be condemned." ...And I don't see a guilty man here.
Those Who Attempt To Challenge The Blue Wall Of Silence At USA Swimming Face Instant Retaliation
http://www.wbal.com/article/93071/12/template-story/
I will blog it.
Thank you
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