A baseball coach and para- professional at Heritage High School has been cited for felony possession of a controlled substance and is scheduled to appear before an Arapahoe County District Court judge Oct. 12.
John Quarton, 42, was charged with possession of less than 1 gram of cocaine on March 3 after an agent for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and members of the South Metro Drug Task Force responded to an anonymous call that cited gang activity at Quarton’s Englewood home.
Quarton was suspended from his duties at Heritage before the 2005-06 school year.
LPS school/community relations and communications head Diane Leiker released a written statement Wednesday that said: “We are aware of the situation. Mr. Quarton did not begin the school year with (Littleton Public Schools). Nor will he return until this matter has been resolved to the district’s satisfaction. This is a serious situation, and we are concerned. Law enforcement officials are conducting the investigation at this time.”
Quarton responded to a telephone call Wednesday and said he never was arrested and that the allegations are false.
“It is getting to be a big mess. I can assure you that this is a matter of people out there throwing stuff around,” Quarton said. “There was no arrest, and it was an anonymous phone call to the police.”
Quarton’s lawyer, Vincent Buckmelter of Seawell and Buckmelter P.C., said his client’s argument will be made before the judge.
“He denies the allegations, and we are anticipating and looking forward to challenging them in court,” Buckmelter said. “He has not been arrested, and these allegations are completely unrelated to coaching and teaching.”
Quarton has coached baseball for 17 years at Mullen and Heritage. He has one state championship appearance, at Heritage, and four combined semifinal appearances.
He started working in Heritage’s special education program last year and is part of the Program of Athletic Coaches Education.
