Leading off today: Kason M. O’Neil, the Hudson Falls physical education teacher arrested on charges he had a sexual relationship with a student, appears headed to trial. O’Neil learned yesterday that a Washington County Judge had declined to dismiss the indictment against him,
The Post-Star reported.
O’Neil, 26, appeared briefly in Washington County Court as Judge Kelly McKeighan scheduled pre-trial hearings and a trial date of Aug. 25.
O’Neil was a physical education teacher and track coach at Hudson Falls High School when he was arrested March 10 after an investigation by Hudson Falls Police and State Police.
School fires ex-JV coach who's suing: Monsignor Farrell High School has fired a teacher for misconduct after probing allegations that he verbally abused a student, The Advance of Staten Island reported.
The dismissal of former JV basketball coach Daniel Melious is the latest development in an emerging legal battle. Melious is suing Farrell, the Archdiocese of New York and school officials in state Supreme Court for defamation related to his being let go as basketball coach last year.
"It's pure nonsense," said Jonathan B. Behrins, who represents the teacher. "It's a fabrication. He is a well-respected teacher by his students, his students' parents and most of his peers."
Melious was suspended with pay early this week and then fired. Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling said the school was investigating allegations that Melious had verbally harassed a student and encouraged other students to do likewise.
In July, Melious filed a defamation and breach of contract suit. He contends he was removed as coach after the school accused him of having an "improper relationship" with a former player. The player later told the paper that Melious had done nothing untoward.
Farrell officials deny those allegations and say Melious was removed because he was unable to get along with varsity coach Robert Besignano.
DePoalo's status uncertain: Schenectady varsity football coach Carmen DePoalo was ordered to pay restitution and stay away from a man he fought with inside a restaurant in February. DePoalo, 57, pleaded guilty Thursday in Schenectady City Court to second-degree harassment, a violation, The Times Union reported.
DePoalo told City Judge Vincent Versaci he already paid the court-ordered $125 in restitution and agreed to stay away from Thomas Donato, 59, for the next year. Donato said he was having dinner with a friend at a restaurant when DePoalo arrived and the fight started. They had another run-in three weeks earlier as part of a long-running feud.
DePoalo's status as a coach is unclear. School officials had said they would not take action until DePoalo's case was resolved. DePoalo is not a teacher in the district and coaches on a a year-to-year basis.
He is also business agent for Schenectady’s Local 301 of the International Union of Electronic Workers/Communications Workers of America.
DePoalo filed misdemeanor assault charges against Donato, but the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office dismissed them in May.
