Able to avoid going to trial, Steve Lovelace entered an Alford plea to Judge John Atkins Wednesday morning in Christian County Circuit Court — essentially bringing an end to a long-litigated process for the former Christian County High School football coach.
His amended charges: two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property, both related to his tenure while serving the Christian County Public Schools in leadership capacities.
Set for sentencing February 14, 2024, each count is for 12 months for a concurrence of 12 months, and he will have to pay an amount of restitution thereabouts of $18,000.
A Mayfield native, Lovelace has long been defended by Attorney David Bundrick, but was more recently prosecuted by Graves County Commonwealth’s Attorney Richie Kemp — a decision made in July as former Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Bolen expressed conflict of interest.
And it was in July, too, when Bundrick told the court that he and Lovelace were prepared for a trial with several witnesses already subpoenaed.
Officials with CCPS have previously indicated that Lovelace converted between $500 and $10,000 in funds and/or checks from the CCHS Football Booster and Quarterback Club for personal use. They further claim Lovelace unlawfully converted more than $10,000 in cash/checks that belonged to CCHS for personal use.
An Alford plea is one of guilt, in which the defendant maintains innocence, but admits that the prosecution’s evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial.
Lovelace was indicted by a Christian County grand jury in June of 2021. He resigned as coach in March of that year — less than two weeks after CCPS leaders announced he’d been dismissed as athletic director.
He currently serves as an assistant coach and defensive guru for the Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornado football team, which remains undefeated this year and is playing for a Class 4A regional title Friday.
