BOILING SPRINGS — South Middleton School Board put a hold on wrestling coach Rodney Wright but did not count him out of the upcoming season.

The board Monday voted unanimously to reinstate Wright as head coach of the Boiling Springs High School team, but made the effective date of his appointment Jan. 1, 2014.

This means Wright will miss the first six weeks of a sport that starts preseason training in mid-November and has a regular season that runs through the end of January. Postseason wrestling continues into mid-March.

A full-time drivers’ education teacher, Wright was suspended from the classroom for much of the first marking period but will return on Monday, Oct. 14.

Wright was charged on April 11 with possession of drug paraphernalia after a police search of his home revealed a small wooden box and a stainless steel smoking pipe, both with the odor of marijuana.

Defense attorney Jay Abom said Monday that while Wright is being considered for participation in the accelerated rehabilitative disposition program for first-time offenders, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s office has yet to make the motion for Wright to be accepted into the program.

Successful completion of conditions specified under the ARD would result in the dismissal of the paraphernalia charge and an expungement of Wright’s record, Abom said. “ARD does not involve any admission of guilt.”

Participation in the program is for a period of at least six months and could include such conditions as community service and drug and alcohol counseling, Abom said. “ARD is routine in a case such as this one.”

The board Monday approved a list of extra duty athletic positions for the winter season that included appointing Ryan Eby the interim head coach for wrestling for the first six weeks of the season. Eby will resume work as assistant varsity coach after Wright takes over as the head coach.

Prior to voting on the list, Board President Tom Merlie read a statement from Wright in which the coach apologized for the negative publicity his personal situation has brought toward the school district, the board, the administration, the parents, students, the wrestling program and team.

“This entire situation has added a great deal of stress to my family, my friends, the wrestlers and the parents for which I am greatly sorry,” Merlie quoted Wright. “Looking back on the situation, I wish I would have done a lot of things differently. I am looking forward to putting the situation behind us all and getting back to teaching and coaching.”

In a phone interview with The Sentinel prior to the meeting, Wright said he wished he could return to the head coach position at the beginning of the season, but added “that is not my decision.”

Wright was then asked about the discrepancy in the dates between when he is scheduled to return as a teacher and when he returns as head coach. “Why the delay is a good question,” Wright said. “I’d never really a got a clear sense.”

Hundreds of people flocked to the school board meeting in early September in a show of support to have Wright immediately reinstated as coach for the upcoming season. There were rumors circulating within the community that Wright’s name was being withheld from renewal on the roster of winter sports coaches.

The issue did not come up in school board meetings held later in September. Monday’s meeting was moved from the board room in the Iron Forge Educational Center to the high school auditorium in anticipation of a larger crowd.

Fewer people showed up Monday and no one in the audience said a word about Wright or his status as a coach during either of the two public comment periods.

Kim Hurley, Wright’s girlfriend, said that while supporters are disappointed the coach will miss the opening weeks of wrestling season, they were relieved that he would be back in January and was not dismissed for a full year.

Assistant coaches Eby and Trevor Byers will lead the program for the first six weeks and are familiar with the coaching style of Wright having worked with him for years, Hurley said.

“They are excellent coaches,” wrestling mom Lisa Vaughn said of Eby and Byers. “They will do a great job. They will be there to support the boys. That is going to mean a lot.” Vaughn said the absence of Wright in the opening weeks of the season could impact the Bubbler’s postseason prospects.

Wright will not be head coach during two tournaments that are very important to the Bubbler wrestling program — King of the Mountain and the Boiling Springs holiday tournament, Vaughn said. Both events draw college scouts.

There was concern among supporters over who the scouts would be able to call on the coaching staff to get the best information on the wrestling style of prospects. It was felt hearing it from head coach Wright would make a better impression.

“It’s apples and oranges,” Board President Merlie said when asked why Wright is being reinstated as a teacher in October, but would have to wait until early January to resume his duties as head coach.

“As a teacher, you have certain rights,” Merlie said. “Coaches are seasonal employees and have not rights to the job from one year to the next.”

The board Monday approved a memo of understanding involving a grievance that had been filed against the school district. Merlie would not elaborate on the contents of the memo except to say it involved the coaching roster for winter sports and that “it will allow us to move forward.”

Cumberlink

PENN TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND COUNTY – Boiling Springs High School wrestling coach Rodney A. Wright has been ordered to stand trial in Cumberland County Court on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

District Justice Vivian Cohick found enough evidence in a three-hour preliminary hearing Wednesday to order Wright, 44, to appear for formal arraignment Aug. 22 in Cumberland County Court on the misdemeanor charge. Wright was arrested April 11 after police found a marijuana pipe in a jacket alleged to be Wright’s in the mud room at Wright’s Penn Township home Jan. 14.

Wright, who is free on his own recognizance, is on sick leave from his teaching and coaching positions according to his attorney, Jay Abom of Carlisle.

Key witness Michealle Wright, Rodney Wright’s estranged wife, testified she called state police to their home Jan. 14 and pointed out a red jacket in the mud room where she said she saw her husband stash a marijuana pipe. Trooper David C. Long II testified he looked in the jacket and found a small wooden box and a metal pipe which was later determined to contain traces of marijuana.

Later the same day Michealle Wright signed a consent form allowing police to search their house and outbuildings. No more evidence was found, police testified.

Rodney Wright was not at home either time police were at his house, but returned moments after the search party left, Michealle Wright said. She said her husband was “very upset, nervous … and crying” when he learned about the search.

Cumberland County First Assistant District Attorney Jaime Keating presented evidence and testimony alleging that early the next morning Rodney Wright purchased gallons of water and fruit pectin at Wal-Mart in Carlisle. Drug-testing expert Paul Polensky testified that ingesting fruit pectin is believed by some to be a way to fool a drug test.

The district attorney also called police witnesses who testified Rodney Wright changed his story several times in subsequent interviews, first saying he’d never seen the paraphernalia and later saying he had seen it but wasn’t his.

In a closing statement, Abom argued the prosecution had not shown that Wright owned the drug pipe and intended to use it to consume marijuana, and implied that Michealle Wright had unrelated motives for calling police.

The purpose of a preliminary hearing is determine if there is enough evidence of crime to bring a witness to trial, and “clearly, the court felt there was sufficient evidence to go forward,” Keating said outside the courthouse.

“Mr. Wright is very disappointed,” Abom said after the hearing. “However, we recognize that the crux of the facts in this case are based on the commonwealth’s key witness, his estranged wife.”

He wasn’t permitted at the preliminary hearing to question Michealle Wright’s credibility, Abom said, but “at trial, a jury is entitled to disbelieve … they can consider whether she was motivated to lie.”

The district attorney’s office issued a statement in April denying that Wright was targeted because he’s well-known in the community. Wright issued his own statement through his attorney saying he expected to be cleared of the charge.

Courtesy of Pennlive.com

To Whom It May Concern:

My Firm has been retained to represent Rodney Wright in defense of the Misdemeanor Paraphernalia charges filed against him. In response to many media inquires, Mr. Wright releases the following statement:

I am deeply disappointed that a contentious divorce with my wife of 19 years has spilled out into the public spotlight and has led to these allegations. The students and athletes entrusted to my care have always been my greatest priority. I am grateful for the outpouring of support from friends, family, and members of our school community. I intend to remain cooperative with the police. I look forward to clearing my name and having these charges dismissed.

Mr. Wright asked that any further questions be directed to me at my firm at 717.249.0900.

Sincerely,

Abom & Kutulakis, L.L.C.
John A. Abom
Attorney for Rodney Wright

View the Original Statement Here

The presentation of witnesses and reports from a defense attorney led to the dismissal of the DUI portion of a homicide by vehicle charge, but a 23-year-old Landisburg man is still heading to Cumberland County Court for the death of a Landisburg woman.

Kevin C. Miller was initially charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and DUI controlled substance after a rollover crash that occurred on Sunnyside Drive in Middlesex Township on Oct. 14. The crash resulted in the death of Ashtyn Rideout, 23, of Landisburg, who was partially ejected from the vehicle.

Magisterial District Judge Susan Day heard testimony Wednesday from Middlesex Township police as well as from a forensic toxicology expert. Prosecution focused on the state of the crash, while defense argued the need for either the DUI component or the homicide by vehicle charge.

Police

Sgt. James Patterson of the Middlesex Township Police Department testified first during the preliminary hearing Wednesday and said he was called to the scene and when he arrived, he found a man “knelt next to a woman who was partially trapped in a car,” he said. On cross examination, Patterson said Miller was holding Rideout’s hand at the time.

Patterson testified that no hazards were noticed on the road, and the crash was reported to police by a passer-by. Police initially reported that the vehicle went off the side of the road, where it struck a large rock and sideswiped a utility pole before rolling onto the driver side and eventually the roof.

He testified that Miller had told him he was driving the vehicle and was taking prescription medication, which Patterson said Miller had told him belonged to the Rideout.

Through defense witnesses and blood work, Miller’s attorney John Abom of Abom & Kutulakis, Carlisle, argued that the only medications found in Miller’s system were prescribed to him.

Blood test

Prosecution introduced evidence in the form of the medical results of the blood test, which showed there was no alcohol present in his blood, but there were amounts THC and a generic form of Zoloft found.

Miller’s mother testified that Miller was been prescribed a generic Zoloft, which was the only prescription medication identified in the blood work.

Dr. Lawrence Guzzardi, an expert witness in forensic toxicology, also testified for the defense and is an expert in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs, such as Zoloft. He said the amount found in Miller’s blood work is well within therapeutic levels and would have no affect on driving.

Guzzardi also pointed out that the Delta-9 Carboxy THC found in Miller’s blood meant that Miller had smoked marijuana, but he was not under the influence of the substance. Guzzardi said Delta-9 Carboxy THC is the inactive metabolite of marijuana, which stays in the body for some time, but is not an active component and would not affect driving.

“It is a marker that someone used marijuana,” he said. “There is absolutely no evidence that marijuana had any effect on the driving ability of Mr. Kevin Miller. At some point, he had smoked, but was not under the influence at the time.”

“The test reflects that at some point he used marijuana, but was not under the influence at the time,” Abom said. “This was a very tragic, sad accident, but not every accident when someone is killed justifies criminal charges.”

Incident scene

When asked if Miller showed any signs of intoxication, Patterson said he had.

“I noticed when I watched him walk, there was a swagger to his walk, and when he stood in place, he swayed,” he said. “He said she had been drinking, and he was the designated driver.”

Patterson said a light odor of alcohol prompted him to initiate a preliminary breath test, which resulted in a negative reading for alcohol.

Miller was not arrested, but was taken to Carlisle Regional Medical Center for a blood test.

Rideout was taken by ambulance to CRMC, where she was later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed blunt force trauma as the cause and manner of death. The autopsy also revealed that Rideout had taken prescription medication but had not taken the same medication as Miller.

An amended charge of homicide by vehicle, which does not have the DUI component attached, was added to the complaint during the hearing, and the initial homicide by vehicle while DUI charge was dismissed due to lack of evidence showing the intoxication level caused the crash.

Abom attempted to argue against the homicide by vehicle charge, saying that no evidence had been offered to prove that Miller had violated any traffic laws, causing the crash.

“One moment of inattentiveness and you’re hit, which causes an accident. There was no evidence of speeding, of weaving, any traffic violations,” he said, “This is an accident, not a crime.”

Daniel J. Sodus, senior assistant district attorney, argued that the added homicide by vehicle charge had been proven, as the crash itself showed a recklessness.

“It is not a far stretch of the imagination at all that a moment of inattentiveness caused this crash,” he said. “Many drivers are inattentive, use cellphones and such, that by itself does not cause you to flip your vehicle.”

The homicide by vehicle charge was bound over for Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas. A formal arraignment has been scheduled for 9 a.m. June 20.