Former Burbank John Burroughs superior university boys basketball coach, Austin Pope, has been billed with theft in connection with his official potential, in accordance to a press release from the Burbank Law enforcement Division.
“In December of 2023, the Burbank Police Division was contacted by the Burbank Unified School District about feasible theft of funds by Mr. Austin Pope. Mr. Pope was used by the district but has given that been terminated,” the release reads. “The months-long law enforcement investigation incorporated getting witness and victim statements and the overview of money records. The investigation has uncovered that Mr. Pope misappropriated resources he was entrusted with in his official capacity as a coach. The circumstance was reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office environment, who referred it to the Burbank Town Attorney’s Office.
“The Burbank City Attorney’s Place of work has considering that reviewed the circumstance and submitted 1 rely of Theft by Fake Pretenses Exceeding $950, in violation of California Penal Code Section 532(a), towards Mr. Pope.”
Pope is because of to seem in Los Angeles Exceptional Courtroom on June 28 for arraignment.
Pope, a previous standout basketball participant himself at Burbank Substantial from 2009–13, was employed to be Burroughs’s varsity coach in Could 2023.
Official: Burroughs Significant has employed Austin Pope (@AustinPope_) as its new boys basketball mentor. Pope was a standout at Burbank Higher from 2009-13 in advance of enjoying collegiately and skillfully.
He will be a very first-time head varsity mentor immediately after serving as an assistant at Viewpoint. pic.twitter.com/PLkrKFWmGr
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) Could 3, 2023
In his debut season as a head mentor this past wintertime, he led Burroughs to a 6–1 start out just before becoming officially introduced from the place on Dec. 1.
A assertion from Burbank Unified College District Supt. John Paramo was despatched to basketball households that working day.
“Mr. Pope has been permanently produced from his coaching duties at John Burroughs Substantial University,” Paramo’s statement read through. “I am let down that our many endeavours to maintain a productive meeting with Mr. Pope did not occur above the earlier a number of times. When I know quite a few wish to know the specific particulars of the allegations that led to this final decision, I am sorry to repeat that I am constrained in what I can share, as Mr. Pope has authorized privacy rights. I realize how unsatisfying it is to not acquire these responses, but supplied the seriousness of the allegations and the on-going investigation I request you to regard these lawful limitations.”
There was a documentary-design and style online video with the caption “The Firing: The Call that Exposed Burroughs & Fired Up its Gamers, Mothers and fathers & Community” released Dec. 2 on Instagram (Video clip) that reveals Pope coaching his closing match.
Just after dropping to Harvard-Westlake, Pope addresses the group in the locker home following the match and tells the gamers he’s “been let go from the Burroughs method.”
The determination designed an uproar in the method. Gamers and mother and father began to protest in initiatives to get Pope reinstated. Through that time, Burroughs gamers refused to engage in a video game versus Village Christian, ensuing in a forfeit decline.
Eventually, Malique Johnson took over as interim coach and the Bears finished the time 15–14 over-all.
