Bail at $10,000 for former schools AD

Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004 | 10:46 a.m.

Bail of $10,000 was set this morning for former Clark County School District athletic director Larry McKay on charges of felony theft charges.

McKay was to be booked into the Clark County Detention Center and was expected to post bail by this evening.

McKay is charged with four felony counts of theft related to his handling of district funds. Each count carries a maximum of 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

An arrest warrant had been issued for McKay on Aug. 9, and he did not attend an Aug. 12 court hearing.

School District Police have been investigating McKay for nearly a year, and the job isn't done yet, Chief Elliot Phelps said. There could also be additional charges brought by the other agencies participating in the investigation, Phelps said.

Metro Police and the Nevada Division of Investigations provided assistance to School District Police on the case, Phelps said.

A criminal complaint prepared by School District Police alleges McKay improperly used nearly $100,000 of district funds for expenses related to the Holiday Prep Classic basketball tournament. McKay founded the tournament, which was sponsored by the district and held in school gyms, and he served as its director.

Between 1998 and 2001 McKay used $94,147 in funds from the athletic department's budget to pay School District Police officers who provided security at the annual tournament, according to the complaint.

McKay retired in June 2003 after 30 years with the district. In an earlier interview with the Sun, McKay said he had done nothing wrong.