A resolution has been reached in the theft case against former Christian County High School Coach Steve Lovelace, as he entered an Alford plea in Christian Circuit Court Wednesday to amended charges.
Lovelace appeared virtually alongside defense attorney David Bundrick and special prosecutor Graves County Commonwealth’s Attorney Richie Kemp, who informed the court of the agreement—an Alford plea to amended charges of two misdemeanor counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property.
Kemp clarified that agreement comes with required payment of restitution in the amount of a maximum of $18,000, Lovelace cannot bring litigation against the Christian County Public School System and he cannot be in a position of control over another entity’s finances.
Judge John Atkins accepted the agreement but deferred ruling on probation until a timeline can be hammered out on the payment of restitution.
An Alford plea is functionally a guilty plea where the defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges there is enough evidence that if it went to trial, it could end in a conviction.
Final sentencing was set for February 14, where both parties were confident that would have a payment timeline determined by that date.
An indictment says that between January 1, 2014 and December 31 of 2020, Lovelace utilized between 500 and $10,000 in funds designated for Christian County High School football for his own use, along with using over $10,000 in funds designated for Christian County High School for his own personal use.