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Last updated on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Until this year, Jason McKinney was the president of the Ben Davis Cadet Football Association, he even coached a team in the league to a state title last year.
Joe LePage, of Fox59reports, now McKinney is behind bars after allegedly taking money from a league he was supposed to be helping.
"Shocked, shocked to hear it of course, which I am sure everyone is," said parent Allen Bowlin. "A lot of parents out here are probably thinking the same thing."
McKinney's arrest was news to parents like Allen Bowlin. Bowlin said he spent hundreds of dollars watching his three sons play in the league.
"Not everybody can pay for their kid to play football so if somebody is pulling money out of the league that they should not be, it just makes it tougher on everyone else," said Bowlin.
New league president Bryan Hertz said he took over the job in February of this year knowing the league was being investigated, and knowing the league's finances were in the red but he did not know the specifics until Tuesday.
Hertz said he is now focused on restoring confidence in this program.
"If anybody ever asks questions about what we have got going on, we make sure we are up front and transparent," said Hertz.
There are roughly 375 kids either playing football or cheerleading as part of the league. Parent Mandy VaNess said she hopes the money will now go where it is supposed to.
"The kids do deserve a nicer facility, and the fans that come out to support the players deserve running water and a bathroom facility," said parent Mandy VaNess. "For all of the kids that are here, there should be more."
Bowlin said the league needs to get back to one basic principal.
"All the money needs to be going to these kids, that is the bottom line," said Bowlin.
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