Burbank City Attorney's Office Charges Former Burroughs Coach With Alleged Theft

After a six-month investigation, Burbank Police announced that the Burbank City Attorney's Office has indicted former Burroughs High School basketball coach Austin Pope and charged him with one count of theft under false pretenses exceeding $950.

Pope, 29, graduated from Burbank in 2013 and played at North Idaho College and then Chaminade University in Hawaii. After his college career, he played professionally in Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, Serbia and the NBA G-League.

He was hired at Burroughs as the head varsity basketball coach in May 2023 after serving the previous season as an assistant coach at Viewpoint High School in Calabasas.

According to Burbank police, the intensive investigation included obtaining statements from witnesses and victims as well as reviewing financial records. The investigation revealed that Pope misappropriated funds entrusted to him in his official capacity as coach.

Police then referred the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, which then referred it to the Burbank City Attorney's Office. Pope is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 28, 2024 for his arraignment.

Pope was relieved of his duties by Burroughs in late November 2023, about 90 minutes before the Bears faced Harvard-Westlake in a nonleague road contest Wednesday night. The players were informed after the match of his suspension at the time.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has any information, they are asked to contact the Burbank Police Department Investigations Division at (818) 238-3210.

Editor's Note: This story was revised at 4 p.m. June 5