Russell County football coach arrested in connection with vandalism

By Donathan Prater Staff Writer
Published: October 16, 2009

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Russell County High School head football coach Rico White turned himself in Thursday and has been charged with criminal mischief third-degree, Sgt. Harold Smith of the Russell County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday.

The misdemeanor charge stems from a June 8 incident in which a sheriff’s deputy patrolling Russell County High School and Middle School noticed graffiti spray-painted on the road in what appeared to be white paint, according to a sheriff’s report.

The deputy later noticed a vehicle making a U-turn in the area of the graffiti.

The deputy stopped the car, a 1999 Mitsubishi Galant. The driver identified himself as White, the report said.

The deputy noted that White’s hands had white paint on them, the report said.

White claimed that he had earlier attended a football camp in Auburn and identified himself as head football coach of Russell County High School, the report said.

“We conducted an investigation and presented the evidence to a grand jury, which decided that there was enough evidence to make an arrest,” Smith said.

The size of the area where the graffiti was located was “minimal,” Smith said.

Bond has been set at $1,000.

Attempts to contact officials at Russell County High School and the Russell County Board of Education were not
successful.