Former Coatesville AD must stand trial
The former athletic director at the Coatesville Area School District, who is accused of using money from district athletic events to pay down gambling debts and buy himself a Range Rover, must stand trial, according to a judge's ruling Friday.
The former athletic director at the Coatesville Area School District, who is accused of using money from district athletic events to pay down gambling debts and buy himself a Range Rover, must stand trial, according to a judge's ruling Friday.
James Donato, 49, has been charged with theft and state ethics violations. He will face all 139 charges in court. Dan Bush, Donato's lawyer, has said he will fight the charges.
Nine witnesses testified at Donato's day-long preliminary hearing Friday at the Chester County Justice Center in West Chester.
Prosecutors introduced 33 exhibits into evidence, most of which were bank records.
An 18-month investigation into the school district's management and finances ended in a Chester County grand jury report and Donato's arrest in December.
The grand jury also charged Richard Como, the former superintendent of the Coatesville school district, with theft and ethics violations. He will face 47 of the 51 charges brought against him, according to the result of his preliminary hearing on Tuesday. His formal arraignment is scheduled for March 19.
Both Donato and Como resigned in 2013 after school officials found racist and sexist text messages on their district-issued cell phones.
The Chester County District Attorney's Office made public its investigation into district finances after the school officials made the texts public.
- Michaelle Bond