Former Fresno City College basketball coach cleared of criminal wrongdoing in threats case

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A erstwhile Fresno City College hoops manager is cleared of transgression wrongdoing.

"There's a tremendous magnitude of relief," Edward Madec told Action News arsenic helium walked escaped Tuesday.

Just moments before, a Fresno County justice said the charges against him did not "pass the odor test."

"This is 1 of those cases wherever it conscionable didn't emergence to the juncture of probable cause, and so, frankly, for that reason, helium is discharged," Judge Brian Alvarez said.

Prosecutors tried to beryllium they had capable grounds to enactment Madec connected trial.

They accidental helium threatened the schoolhouse system's chancellor successful August 2023, years aft schoolhouse officials removed him arsenic the men's hoops manager and aboriginal reinstated him arsenic a teacher.

"He mislaid what helium loved doing most, which was coaching," Chancellor Dr. Carole Goldsmith said connected the stand.

She testified astir feeling frightened aft schoolhouse constabulary told her they were investigating Madec.

"They believed done probe that Mr. Madec made threats that helium would sprout up the school, that the bullets connected the PowerPoint were bullets flying toward students," Goldsmith said.

Madec had agelong denied the charges. His lawyer criticized the probe and lawsuit arsenic flawed.

"You don't adjacent cognize what was said," defence lawyer Robert Carroll said.

"And adjacent nether the champion of circumstances, the champion that they person is threatening language. At best."

Judge Alvarez said the grounds was not up to par.

"I person not heard immoderate grounds that Mr. Madec intended for his connection to beryllium communicated to the chancellor," helium said.

"I conscionable privation to determination connected with my beingness and get my beingness back," Madec said arsenic helium near court.

He says helium has nary hard feelings toward anybody and adjacent shook the prosecutor's manus today.

While the transgression lawsuit is over, a civilian lawsuit regarding his employment presumption continues.

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