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James Donald "Jamie" Smith Jr made his first court appearance on Mar. 18, 2013. (KTUU-TV / March 18, 2013) |
On Monday, a Mat-Su hockey coach pleaded not guilty to several felony felonies, including theft and forgery.
James Donald "Jamie" Smith Jr. is accused of using money earned from charitable gaming permits to fund the Alaska Avalanche Hockey Club, his own for-profit venture. He made his first court appearance at the Palmer Superior Court.
Smith used more than $48,000 after allegedly forging signatures and documents, dating back to 2008 when he was managing a junior league hockey team booster club.
The Alaska State Hockey Association, which governs local hockey leagues, has decided to retain Smith as the coach of the junior Avalanche bantam tier-two hockey team.
“I decided we are not going to be taking summary action,” said Darryl Thompson, ASHA President. “It would be unfair - he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
The Mat-Su School District has said Smith will remain a teacher and hockey coach, but it will review its own financial records to ensure school funds have been managed appropriately.
Smith was charged with one count of theft in the first degree, one scheme to defraud, one count of fraudulent use of an access device and two counts of forgery in the second degree, all felonies. His bail conditions forbid him from accessing finances other than his own. His next scheduled court appearance is on April 19.
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