Hermitage football coach reinstated after being sentenced to 2 months in jail

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - A football coach at Hermitage High School has been reinstated after he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors after originally being charged with embezzlement from his time at L.C. Bird High School.

The judge sentenced David W. Bedwell, of Powhatan, to two years with all but two months suspended.

Chesterfield police said Bedwell, used school purchase orders at L.C. Bird to buy approximately $5,000 of equipment that he took with him when his employment ended.

Bedwell was employed as the schools athletic director at the time and was hired as the head football coach at Hermitage High School in Henrico this season. He also serves as a counselor at the school, Henrico School confirmed.

Bedwell was charged with two counts of embezzlement. He was released on a $3,000 secured bond. Those charges were later reduced when he pleaded guilty.

The equipment was located and returned to L.C. Bird High School.

At the time, Henrico County Schools issued a statement regarding Bedwell saying, “The school division’s central office administrators are gathering facts and assessing the available information. It would be inappropriate for anyone to speculate or issue further comment at this time. Mr. Bedwell is a school counselor (in addition to his coaching duties) and he is on administrative leave with pay during this time."

Since being sentenced, he has been reinstated as head football coach at Hermitage High School.

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