TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - An assistant coach for Florida A&M University's women's basketball team is fired following an arrested on grand theft and fraud charges.
Terrance Chatman is accused of stealing checks from the men's basketball team for his own personal use.
He was arrested on Monday.
Probable caused documents allege that FAMU PD was notified of a grand theft from the FAMU Foundation back in August 2017.
The complainant told police that he had made a $5,000 donation to the FAMU's men basketball team in June, but was told by one of the coaches the check had never been received.
The caller then wrote another check that was cashed by the FAMU Foundation.
However, the complainant later found that his account was overdrawn by $5,000. That's when the caller told police he discovered an unknown suspect had taken the first check and cashed it into their personal account at Regions Bank.
According to court documents, an investigation led police to discover surveillance footage of a man matching Chatman's description cashing the stolen check at the ATM.
Through further investigation, police learned the check was deposited into Chatman's personal bank account.
Chatman was arrested and charged with grand theft $300 or more but less than $5,000 and fraud. He remains in the Leon County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
It's unclear if more charges will be filed against Chatman.
Chatman has been the assistant women's basketball coach for FAMU since last year. He previously served one season on the FAMU Men’s Basketball staff from November 2013 to April 2014, under then-coach Clemon Johnson.
According to FAMU's athletics website, he also served briefly as interim head coach from April to June of 2014.
This all comes after the conclusion of a Title IX investigation into claims that the head coach of Florida A&M University's women's basketball discriminated against players based on sexual orientation. You can read more about that investigation here.
Florida A&M University’s releases the following statement below:
"Today’s arrest of Terrance Chatman, Florida A&M University’s former assistant women’s basketball coach, concludes an investigation that was launched immediately after FAMU Athletics was contacted by a supporter. It was alleged that Mr. Chatman cashed a $5,000 check that was donated to FAMU’s Men’s Basketball Team.
FAMU Athletics forwarded the donor’s claim to FAMU's Department of Campus Safety and Security and placed Mr. Chatman on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Mr. Chatman is charged with grand theft and fraud-uttering a false instrument in connection with the allegations.
The University holds employees accountable for following university policies and procedures and has terminated Chatman’s employment."
