Attorney Defends Coach's Actions

By Ben Bolch

Feb. 6, 2002 12 AM PT

The attorney representing former San Bernardino High boys’ basketball Coach Jesse Spinner, who faces one count of felony embezzlement for allegedly pocketing money that was supposed to go to the San Bernardino City Unified School District, said the money was specifically earmarked for his client by two private basketball organizations.

Attorney Dan Greenberg said Spinner received three checks totaling $1,303.75 from the American Roundball Corp. and National Junior Basketball for coordinating and supervising basketball games at the San Bernardino gym. Spinner, who posted $25,000 bail after being arrested at his home last week, faces up to three years in state prison if convicted. He has been placed on administrative leave as a special education teacher at San Bernardino.

Ben Bolch

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California

Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

Attorney Defends Coach’s Actions

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