Ex-Coronado coach held on theft charge

Former Coronado High School football coach John Mannion was arrested on a felony theft charge Monday after his appearance in Henderson Justice Court.

Chief Judge Rodney Burr ordered Mannion, 50, to be released on his own recognizance after being booked and processed at the Clark County Detention Center.

The Clark County district attorney's office accuses Mannion of stealing $2,500 or more in fundraising money between July 1, 2008, and March 31, 2009.

A report from the school district police specifies that Mannion took $17,851 in student funds.

Clark County Deputy District Attorney Michael Radovcic argued against allowing Mannion to be released without having to post bail.

"I understand this wasn't a violent crime," he said. "But it's still $17,000 in question."

Radovcic said Mannion mishandled school funds by not turning in money to the school banker in a timely manner.

"It was only after six months (after summer fundraising efforts) until he had students move a bookshelf and found a bag of money," Radovcic said, referring to an incident Feb. 2 when Coronado students found more than $5,000 in a bag behind furniture in Mannion's office at the school, at 1001 Coronado Center Drive near Horizon Ridge Parkway.

Vincent A. Consul, Mannion's attorney, told the court that his client should be granted release on his own recognizance because he had voluntarily surrendered.

Consul said he had asked for his client's appearance to be added to the court calendar so that Mannion could turn himself in to police.

In addition, he said Mannion grew up in the area, owns a house in Las Vegas and has worked 20 years for the Clark County School District.

"He's not going anywhere," Consul said.

Burr agreed to the release partly because Mannion had no prior failures to appear in court and because Consul had arranged for school district police to be at the courthouse ready to make the arrest, he said.

Mannion refused to comment after the appearance, referring statements to Consul.

Consul said he couldn't comment extensively on the case because he had received only about 20 pages of documents from the district attorney's office, an unusually small number for a financial case.

"There's about two inches worth of paper that Clark County School District officials haven't turned in to the district attorney yet," Consul said. "I can't comment until I see that paperwork."

Mannion hasn't paid any restitution to the school district because he didn't take any money, Consul said.

In February, Mannion "found and turned in a bag that had $5,700 in it," Consul said. "I think the term restitution has been mistakenly applied to that."

Consul said he hasn't seen any paperwork indicating whether the $5,615 found in Mannion's office is included in the $17,851 total the school district says is unaccounted for.

"As for any allegations of the rest of the money, he didn't take it, so there's none to be made at this point," he said.

Mannion's next court appearance has been scheduled for Nov. 12.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.