Politics & Government
O.C. Coaches Allegedly Received $700,000 in Kickbacks, Probe Finds
According to financial records obtained by PBS SoCal, coaches from Tesoro High, San Clemente High, Aliso Niguel High, Capistrano Valley High, El Toro High and Saddleback College were all involved.
Coaches from 29 schools in Orange County received kickbacks totaling nearly $700,000 from a local sports apparel and equipment company that did business with area school districts, according to records obtained by PBS SoCal.
Between 2000 and 2008, the Laguna Hills-based Lapes Athletic Team Sales put the taxpayer money into secret slush funds, some of which was given directly to coaches, according to records uncovered by Teresa and Geoff Sando, an Irvine couple who took over the now defunct company.
The Sandos say the records show coaches from the were among the biggest money-makers. Coaches at , , Dana Hills High School, and were all involved, according to the Sandos.
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Coaches from and were also involved, the ledgers show.
Several school districts have launched investigations into the allegations. The Orange County Sheriff's Department completed one investigation into the claims the Sandos had against Lapes, but Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas declined to prosecute.
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According to the ledgers, one of the biggest beneficiaries was San Clemente High School football coach Eric Patton, who received checks written to him, his family and his assistant coaches.
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