Former Lights coach is charged with theft

An investigation of finances of the Montana State University-Northern basketball program has resulted in a misdemeanor theft charge against Brian Harrell, former coach of the Lights basketball team.

A criminal complaint filed last Monday said Harrell is suspected of stealing about $300 from the university.

Harrell was the coach of the men's basketball team for the 2001-2002 season. School officials said he voluntarily resigned in April.

Four days after he stepped down, the results of a university system audit of the men's basketball program were forwarded to the Legislative Audit Division in Helena. The legislative auditors concurred with the results of the audit and referred the case to the Attorney General's Office, state auditors said.

The criminal complaint said Harrell contacted Montana Criminal Investigation Bureau investigator Shane Shaw after his resignation and admitted he put money into his account in violation of departmental rules, but maintained he had used nearly all the funds for program purposes.

Harrell further admitted to Shaw that he had mixed the money with personal funds and could not account for all of it, the complaint added.

The complaint said Harrell deposited $8,250 in team funds into his personal account.

A subsequent investigation revealed that nearly all the funds had been used for basketball purposes, such as T-shirts and sweats and meal money for the team, as well as fund-raising expenses, according to the complaint.

At the time of the audit, the personal account held $3,343.94, which was transferred back to the university account, the complaint said.

In a written statment, Harrell admitted that some of the funds had been used for dry cleaning, a CD and CD player and unspecified personal expenses, and he could not account for about $300, the complaint said.

Shaw concluded that all but the $300 had been used for athletic expenses, the complaint said.

The complaint added that Harrell has paid the university $5,200 for his mishandling of other funds that he had received for travel expenses, and the university makes no further claim or loss beyond the money Harrell has already paid.

Harrell is scheduled to be arraigned next Monday at 9:30 a.m.