Pocono News Section

Basketball Coach Behind Bars

Basketball Coach Behind Bars - Monday, March 9, 2009 at 8:45PM EST

A Wyoming County school's basketball coach is behind bars after a drug investigation. Christopher Rivers coached at Saint Michael's School for Boys near Tunkhannock.
Police say he was selling pot during his off time. The Scranton Diocese sponsors this school and says Rivers is suspended without pay. A diocese spokesman says Rivers has been with St. Michael's school for boys since 2006.

The school houses troubled children. Rivers worked there as a dorm leader and basketball coach. Rivers lived in Luzerne and was arrested last Thursday after investigators say they bought marijuana from him. Police reports show he told an investigator he had to start selling marijuana in the morning, because he worked at night.

The diocese says no students or teachers were involved in this investigation. The state attorney general's office helped make the arrest. An office spokesman says rivers was a street level dealer, but his arrest was a top priority to investigators because of his job.

Francis Noonan of the State Attorney General office says, "Well the most dangerous thing is what influence he might have on the children that are in his charge. I know when i was an athlete in high school and college i really looked up to my coaches and so that's the disturbing thing about this case, that he's a coach and has influence over this young people."

Rivers wasn't able to post his $20,000 bail. On Monday he was locked up in the Luzerne County jail.