Coach Battles for Freedom

Steve Halpin, who is just seven years removed from a state championship, is now battling for his freedom after being indicted last month and arrested over the weekend for charges relating to the pawning of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of computer and school equipment, which mysteriously disappeared from Mesquite High School, where Halpin coached.

Halpin, 53, allegedly pawned between $100,000 and $200,000 worth of equipment from the high school a year ago and was arrested on Sunday afternoon at his Mesquite home, according to The Dallas Morning News.

A conviction is punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and a 20-year state prison term.

Over a year and a half's time, there were 270 items stolen from the school district, including laptops, cameras and a film projector, some of which mysteriously reappeared as quickly as they disappeared.

Initially, Halpin denied any wrongdoing, but later came clean to some fellow coaches and admitted to some of the incidents. He later resigned as president of the Texas High School Coaches Association after admitting to a gambling problem, believed to be centered around horse races.

Sadly, Halpin's troubles didn't go away, as he was suspended from teaching in public schools in Texas until 2011, was divorced by his wife and served with a restraining order and is now apparently painting houses for a living.

Talk about a quick fall from the top.

Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/award-winning blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He's at the state track meet.

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