BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A Tug Valley High School assistant basketball coach and local businessman faces a 30-count indictment alleging he diverted from a basketball fundraising account for personal purchases and other unauthorized transactions.
A Mingo County grand jury indicted Robert Tyler Hodge, 38, of Marrowbone Creek, on May 29 on 13 counts of computer fraud, 12 counts of unauthorized access device, two counts of fraudulent schemes, two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and one count of money laundering.
Mingo County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Hodge on June 5. He later posted bond and was released.
According to the indictment, the charges stem from transactions involving the Panther Pride account between April 2021 and April 2023.
The grand jury alleges in the 13 computer fraud counts that Hodge used the account to make electronic payments and purchases unrelated to the basketball program.
One count alleges Hodge directed a payment of $915.06 from the Panther Pride account to Santander Consumer USA on April 19, 2023, and credited the payment to an account in his name.
The remaining computer fraud counts involve transactions listed in the indictment, including $425.56 at Menards, $171.20 at J.C. Penney, two payments totaling $78 at Downtown Flavortown, $497.29 at Buckle, $2,834 at Treasures Unlimited, $267.50 at Habitat for Humanity ReStore, $304.93 at Red Lobster, $144.42 at Men’s Wearhouse, $48.13 at Spencer Gifts and $292.05 to Frontier Communications for what investigators allege was a personal internet and phone bill.
The final computer fraud count centers on $5,990 that donors raised to purchase a basketball shooting machine.
According to the indictment, donors deposited the money into the Panther Pride account. The grand jury alleges that Hodge later transferred the funds to a T & K Grocery business account he owned and then withdrew the money from that account. The indictment further states that he later donated the same $5,990 to Tug Valley High School.
The fraudulent schemes charges allege Hodge deprived Tug Valley High School of $5,990 during 2023 through fraudulent pretenses. A second count alleges he deprived community donors who contributed to the Panther Pride account of $5,990 during 2022.
The 12 unauthorized access device counts correspond to the transactions identified in the computer fraud charges. They allege that Hodge used banking information without authorization to make the payments and purchases.
Counts 28 and 29 charge Hodge with obtaining money by false pretenses. Those counts allege he obtained $5,990 from donors through false representations related to the Panther Pride account.
The final count charges Hodge with money laundering. According to the indictment, he conducted financial transactions involving money derived from the alleged criminal activity and funds contained in the Panther Pride account.
The Mingo County Board of Education issued a statement following the indictment.
“The Mingo County School District is aware of the recent indictment involving an assistant boys’ basketball coach at Tug Valley High School,” the statement said. “The allegations outlined in the indictment are, to say the least, deeply concerning and alarming.
“The school district is committed to maintaining the trust of our students, families, employees, taxpayers and community members. We recognize our responsibility to be good stewards of public funds and donated resources, and we expect all employees, citizen coaches and volunteers to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability.”
The statement did not indicate whether the district had taken any employment or coaching action regarding Hodge.
An indictment is an accusation. Hodge is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.