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Track coach charged with threatening kids

A longtime assistant cross-country coach at Menlo-Atherton High School is facing misdemeanor charges in a racially charged incident involving three Hispanic children and a soccer ball, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Kelly James Weston, 63, is accused of assault and making threats after two 12-year-olds and one 11-year-old bounced a soccer ball off the exterior wall of Mr. Weston's home, a house trailer, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said in a report. The children said the incident was accidental, the report said.

Mr. Weston allegedly came out of his house and told the kids that he hated them, that he hated "your kind" and Mexicans in general, and that he could "kill" them "right now," Mr. Wagstaffe said, adding that the home showed no damage from the soccer ball.

Mr. Weston allegedly pushed one of the kids, the basis of the assault charge.

The children reported the incident to their parents, who reported it to a deputy from the Sheriff's Office, Mr. Wagstaffe said.

Judge Norman Gatzert set Sept. 28 for a conference to determine a date for a jury trial. Mr. Weston is out of custody on a $50,000 bail bond.

M-A Athletic Director Pam Wimberly, in an interview, expressed shock at the charges and noted that Mr. Weston has coached at M-A for more than 30 years.

The Almanac was unable to reach Mr. Weston's defense attorney for comment.

Posted by G3ra, a resident of the Menlo Park: Fair Oaks neighborhood, on Aug 20, 2009 at 10:23 am

Go Bears...........!!!

Posted by M-A Bear Class of 2000, a member of the Menlo-Atherton High School community, on Aug 20, 2009 at 9:51 pm

Coach Kelly has faithfully and selflessly served this community for 30 years. This article and the mentioned charges are shameful. how can someone's life of service be so quickly dismissed and trampled on?!