AUGUST COURT DATE FOR YORKTOWN COACH
Arlington Public Schools officials have not yet made a decision on the future employment of Yorktown assistant teacher and girls’ soccer coach Bernard McHale.
McHale, 41, was arrested June 30 by Fairfax County Police and charged with one count of crimes against nature and two counts of indecent liberties with a child by a custodian. The arrest came in response to reports that McHale had sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl on more than one occasion in the summer of 1997. The woman was a player on McHale’s soccer team at the time.
Following his arrest, McHale was transported to the Adult Detention Center in Fairfax County. Arlington police were not involved in the arrest.
The resident of 12023 Golf Ridge Court was released on $15,000 bond on June 30 and is scheduled to appear in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Aug. 1, at 11 a.m.
Mike Krulfeld, Yorktown’s director of student activities, said he and other administrators at the school have made no decision about McHale’s status as coach.
“School is out and he’s not teaching or coaching at all this summer, so closer to the year we’ll reassess if any actions need to be taken,” said Linda Erdos, a spokesperson for the school system. “But not at this time since he’s not working.”
McHale’s arrest affects soccer programs outside Arlington public schools as well. The long-time coach is a director of the Capital Soccer Academy, along with Mike Brady, the American University women’s soccer coach. “I don’t know how to handle this situation,” said Brady. “His lawyers have asked that we make no comment.”
McHale coached travel soccer for the DC Stoddert Soccer League and was named All Met Coach of the Year in 2000, for his success at Yorktown. At the time of his arrest, he was also employed at the Potomac School, a private school in McLean.
Colleagues spoke highly of his abilities as a coach. “Bernie always had very good teams over at Yorktown,” said Eric Reiser, girls’ soccer coach at Washington-Lee High School.
FIRST WEST NILE MOSQUITO CONFIRMED
Last week Arlington public health officials said that a mosquitoes found in north Arlington are infected with West Nile Virus, the first infected mosquitoes found in the county.
Officials reported that a mosquito traps in the Donaldson Run area contained mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus. The County uses mosquito traps as part of its West Nile virus surveillance efforts. The confirmation of infected mosquitoes is an indication that the virus has reached Arlington.
However, officials have seen no cases of West Nile in people, dead birds or chickens maintained as West Nile testers in the county.
To reduce residents’ exposure to the virus the County will notify each household and increase larviciding in the area. In addition to the traditional larvaciding, a liquid larvicide will also be used, which will be sprayed using hand-held squeeze bottles, similar to the spraying of roses.