Trial of M-A assistant track coach in its third day

This racist has no business working in a school. He should stay in his trailer and never come out.

Racism is not a crime. Violent crimes motivated by racism are crimes ("hate crimes"). This is still America, and IF Mr. Weston has racist views, he is entitled to those viewpoints even if we disagree with them, lest your viewpoints or mine become crimes at some point. The only issue is did he push the boy. Frankly, it all seems like much ado about nothing to me...a couple of kids showing a lack of consideration and hitting his home with a ball, and perhaps him being a bit too strident in dressing them down for it. Does this rise to the level of criminal prosecution? Does this county have any better uses of taxpayer time and money (and law enforcement resources, targeted to what I believe are "true" crimes)? As a matter of personal belief, I do not support "politically correct" prosecutions, just prosecutions for actual crimes.

So it's OK for an adult to threaten to kill children who have accidentally hit a ball against the side of his trailer? An adult who is a coach that works with children every day? If these kids hadn't reported this crime (threatening someone's life is a crime) then parents would be blithely leaving their children in his care. He's not being prosecuted for being a racist, he's being prosecuted for threatening a child's life. Last I checked, there's nothing in the penal code that criminalizes the thoughts of prejudiced morons. This is about actions.

Jane Q you're trusting the words of a 12 and 11 year old. Really? One thing I've learned having brothers is things are always going to get exaggerated. I don't think Coach Kelly deserves prosecution for this. I think the parents of these kids are trying to get something out of it. They could have easily gone and talked to the coach and asked what happened. These parents are doing something wrong, whether its listening to a child's exaggerated stories and believing them or trying to make a quick buck in a settlement. Kelly you have the support of your former runners, their families, and friends.

This is a criminal trial, not a civil damages case. No one stands to make any money off of this, except the defense attorney. The parents can't force a criminal prosecution -- that's up to the district attorney's office.

I'd be more likely to take Coach Kelly at his word if he hadn't used exactly the same racist expletives when talking to the police as the children claimed he said to them.

I don't know him, and I have no idea if he's a great guy when he's at work and then when he comes home, the mask comes off and he's a raging racist screaming at little neighbor kids. But if this guy was my neighbor and he threatened to kill my kids, you can be sure I'd get on the phone to the police, too.

Here the elements of the crime he's charged with. I think it's hard to imagine he really intended to kill the kids, if he said that, versus an inappropriate statement of frustration. As I said, this is a 'P.C." prosecution. Of course, Jane, if someone said this to your kids, you would be very offended, and want that person arrested. On the other hand, if your kids said it to someone as a figure of speech and they got prosecuted for it, I'm sure you'd feel differently.

1. The defendant willfully threatened to unlawfully kill or unlawfully inflict great bodily injury on another person;

2. The defendant made the threat orally or in writing or by electronic communication device;

3. The defendant intended that the statement be understood as a threat and intended that it be received by the other person;

4. The threat was so clear, immediate, unconditional, and specific that it communicated to the other person a serious intention and the immediate prospect that the threat would be carried out;

5. The threat actually caused the other person to be in sustained fear for her or his own safety or for the safety of her or his immediate family;

This whole situation has gotten way out of control.

Jane Q Public is assuming that what the kids said was accurate. My kids have NEVER exaggerated a story, EVER. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I guess these kids or their parents don't bear any responsibility in this incident at all. Let's not be so quick to condemn an individual, especially one who has given so much time to helping our community’s youth, and let's not try this case in the media either.

I applaud Mr. Weston's time and commitment to the MA students.

My son has benefited tremendously from Coach Kelly's kindness and dedication to him as a runner and teenager. I therefore vouch for his integrity and character without hesitation.

There was a conflict and a confrontation to be sure, but the circumstances and context are missing from the article and ongoing electronic conversation. Coach Kelly is a quiet man of small stature. Was he a target of less than tolerant neighbors? Was there a history of objects hitting his home? Did he respond out of frustration after ignoring many "attacks" on him and his property? Did he not even use those words but was angry and therefore "heard" that way?

Jane Q is far too quick to convict a man who may be quite wrongly accused. The case against him is largely hearsay: I would like to know his story living near these kids and his perception of the encounter. I believe he is the sort of man who will punish himself enough for anything said out of line; he is too selfless and too principled. Please remember Jane Q that you and others so willing to jump to conclusions without all of the facts can potentially destroy a good man caught up in a bad situation. And that is a greater crime.

Conversely, you are awfully quick to dismiss these children as liars and vandals, and their parents as opportunistic money-grubbers.

Apparently, it's perfectly OK for an adult to threaten a child while unleashing a racist tirade but it's wrong of the kids to report it. I hate to think of what kind of values you are teaching your own children.

If it's true, I would not entrust my children to a man who goes bonkers over a ball hitting the side of his house.

It is irresponsible and completely inappropriate to have a racist work in a school. It doesn't matter how "wonderful" a person is... if he/she is a racist then he/she does not belong in a school of all places.

I don't think it's right we are talking about a man who has been working at one of the most culturally diverse schools in the area for 40 YEARS. He has been a cross country and track coach where a good majority of the kids are NOT white. For him to never have any previous issues with any of the students at the school just proves that he is professional in his work environment. Why penalize him and make him leave his job and his passion? Or even for his beliefs? Isn't he entitled to them? We still don't know the truth. Some people on here are jumping to conclusions and trusting the integrity of a 12 and 11 year olds. How did their ball hit the side of his home so hard that it would cause a man to come outside and they would claim it to be the accident?...how do we even know this is the first time that these kids hit his home? Let us only show support for a man who has blessed hundreds of students lives. Let us not tarnish not just a good name but a great name. Coach Kelly deserves that from our community. He has done to much and poured his heart and soul into a great program at Menlo Atherton. Show him some respect