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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Fired Spanish Fork High School girls soccer coach Jeremy King has been charged with felony forgery and theft. His wife also has been charged.
King was hired in August and fired last September by the Nebo School District.
He faces six third-degree felony counts of forgery and a felony count of theft.
His wife, Brianne King, faces related forgery and theft charges.
"They were paying personal bills and buying items," Spanish Fork police Detective Matt Johnson said of an estimated $1,320 missing from a soccer account.
Jeremy King cooperated with police and has since repaid $700 to the school, Johnson said.
Johnson said Jeremy King was investigated after an assistant coach received calls from collection agencies.
The soccer account was in the name of the assistant coach, and Jeremy King was given several checks presigned but not made out to anyone. King allegedly used them for personal benefit.
Police said the assistant coach also provided blank checks to which Brianne King allegedly signed the assistant coach's name.
The assistant coach told officers that when she confronted Jeremy King about the use of the account, he said he would return the money.
She reported the incidents to Johnson and the school's athletic director, Doug Snell.
Johnson said Jeremy King admitted the forgeries, but contended the amount was closer to $800, and that some of the money was used for team purchases. Johnson said there were no receipts to substantiate the claims.
Lana Hiskey, a Nebo School District spokeswoman, King was an at-will employee, not under contract, and was not a teacher at the school.
Neither King nor his attorney, Jere Reneer, returned Daily Herald calls Tuesday for comment.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
