Coach Accused of Theft
Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:45 am
from the Des Moines register.
Graceland aide sought in theft of coach's car
By CLARK KAUFFMAN
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
November 9, 2006
Police are looking for a Graceland University assistant football coach suspected of stealing the head coach's car and a player's credit card.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Leonard Smith Jr., 34, of Lamoni. The warrants charge Smith with one count of second-degree theft and five counts of felony forgery.
Randy Meline, director of media relations at Graceland, said Smith is in his first year as a part-time assistant coach.
"We are really sorry that this happened, but there really isn't much that can be said or done about it," Meline said.
Graceland's head coach, Cris Welch, is the victim of the alleged car theft.
"I feel it's unfortunate, but I really don't have anything to say about it," he said.
Smith has coached the offensive line and the tight ends at Graceland. The Yellowjackets are 6-3 and ranked No. 21 in NAIA going into Saturday's game against Mid-America Nazarene in Olathe, Kan.
Welch declined to comment on any effect the alleged thefts might have on the football team.
Graceland's athletic director, Dan Hanton, also declined to comment.
Court records indicate that Welch went to Lamoni police on Nov. 1 to report the apparent theft of his 1992 BMW. He told police he had let Smith use the car while Smith's vehicle was being repaired. Welch also told police that one of his players was missing a credit card, and he reported other apparent thefts - unspecified in the court records - from the football program.
Police determined that the missing credit card had been used two days earlier at a Wal-Mart in Bethany, Mo. They reviewed a videotape of the transaction and, with the help of university employees, concluded that Smith was the person shown using the card. The credit card also had been used at a convenience store in Lamoni and at a gas station in Missouri.
When authorities went to Smith's mobile home to talk to him, they discovered that it had been emptied of almost all personal possessions and the door left open. According to authorities, Welch's car was found abandoned at a Kansas City bus depot.
Graceland aide sought in theft of coach's car
By CLARK KAUFFMAN
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
November 9, 2006
Police are looking for a Graceland University assistant football coach suspected of stealing the head coach's car and a player's credit card.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Leonard Smith Jr., 34, of Lamoni. The warrants charge Smith with one count of second-degree theft and five counts of felony forgery.
Randy Meline, director of media relations at Graceland, said Smith is in his first year as a part-time assistant coach.
"We are really sorry that this happened, but there really isn't much that can be said or done about it," Meline said.
Graceland's head coach, Cris Welch, is the victim of the alleged car theft.
"I feel it's unfortunate, but I really don't have anything to say about it," he said.
Smith has coached the offensive line and the tight ends at Graceland. The Yellowjackets are 6-3 and ranked No. 21 in NAIA going into Saturday's game against Mid-America Nazarene in Olathe, Kan.
Welch declined to comment on any effect the alleged thefts might have on the football team.
Graceland's athletic director, Dan Hanton, also declined to comment.
Court records indicate that Welch went to Lamoni police on Nov. 1 to report the apparent theft of his 1992 BMW. He told police he had let Smith use the car while Smith's vehicle was being repaired. Welch also told police that one of his players was missing a credit card, and he reported other apparent thefts - unspecified in the court records - from the football program.
Police determined that the missing credit card had been used two days earlier at a Wal-Mart in Bethany, Mo. They reviewed a videotape of the transaction and, with the help of university employees, concluded that Smith was the person shown using the card. The credit card also had been used at a convenience store in Lamoni and at a gas station in Missouri.
When authorities went to Smith's mobile home to talk to him, they discovered that it had been emptied of almost all personal possessions and the door left open. According to authorities, Welch's car was found abandoned at a Kansas City bus depot.