Storm

Marcum case ends with plea, probation

By DAVID MURPHY
Published August 12, 2006

Storm coach and general manager Tim Marcum avoided the prospect of prison time Friday when he entered a guilty plea to charges he filed a false $10,000 insurance claim concerning his 18-foot fishing boat.

In exchange, judgment was withheld.

Marcum, the winningest coach in Arena Football League history, was given 18 months probation and must pay court costs of $1,352.26. He will not have a conviction on his record, which he said was an important part of the decision. His trial had been scheduled for Sept. 12 in Pinellas County.

"I didn't want that to go against me for the rest of my life," said Marcum, who faced up to five years in prison. "I don't want to be a convicted felon."

Marcum, 62, of Apollo Beach turned himself in after a capias, similar to a warrant, was issued for his arrest in November 2004. He told Progressive Insurance his boat was damaged and submerged after he returned from vacation to find it had fallen off its lift. The company began investigating after it received information that the claim was false.

"From our standpoint, we had what we would consider a pretty strong case with a lot of evidence that would suggest what we allege happen happened," said Bruce Bartlett, chief assistant state attorney.

The case had been ongoing for nearly two years. Marcum changed lawyers, and several pretrial hearings were postponed. His initial trial date of May 23 was continued because time was needed to depose witnesses the defense added.

Marcum's attorney, Jeff Brown, said his client will be eligible to end his probation after six months.

"We looked at the options," Brown said. "And it was his decision to move on and close the chapter and not wait for a trial."

[Last modified October 2, 2006, 12:37:06]