Parkston's former head football coach pleaded not guilty Monday to embezzling about $9,000 from the team.
Tony Axtell, 29, of Sioux Falls, pleaded not guilty to grand theft by taking about $9,000 from the Parkston High School football team last season between Aug. 17 and Oct. 28.
Axtell was indicted by a grand jury on June 3 after Parkston administrators approached Hutchinson County State's Attorney Glenn Roth following an internal investigation.
An arrest warrant was issued on June 6, but Axtell was not arrested until July 1. He was released on a $2,000 bond the same day.
The money that was allegedly taken was raised by the football team for activities like athletic camps, Parkston Superintendent Shane McIntosh said, which means no school district funds are missing.
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Axtell took over the head coach position in July 2015 and resigned the following April. While at the school, he also served as a physical education teacher, physics teacher and assistant track coach.
Axtell is charged with grand theft valued between $5,000 and $100,000, a Class 4 felony, punishable upon conviction by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
A jury trial was scheduled for November.
