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A former teacher and boys track coach who was charged with soliciting a prostitute in 2004 is now facing drug trafficking charges after a traffic stop Friday morning on U.S. 19.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a trooper stopped William A. Napolitano, 49, at 2 a.m. while Napolitano was driving 61 mph in a 45 mph zone on U.S. 19 near Luna Vista Drive.
When the trooper approached Napolitano, who was driving a black 1998 two-door Lexus, he noticed a small plastic bag of cocaine on the front seat of the car, according to an FHP report.
The trooper searched the car and found $13,000 in cash, 31 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, including glass smoking pipes and butane torches, the release said.
Kimberly A. Lang, 43, of 4304 Crestwood Blvd. in New Port Richey, who was also in the car, had 36 grams of cocaine in her possession, the report said.
With a street value of $50 a gram, the cocaine found on Napolitano and Lang is worth about $3,350, according to FHP spokesman Sgt. Steve Gaskins.
Both Napolitano and Lang were charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, and taken to the Land O'Lakes jail, where they are being held in lieu of $53,000 bail.
Napolitano, of 2057 Sugarbush Drive in Holiday, was a teacher and coach at River Ridge High when he had his first brush with the law in 1998.
He was charged with soliciting a prostitute in Hillsborough County after authorities said he offered an undercover officer $15 for sex. He pleaded no contest on that charge.
Although school superintendent John Long recommended he be fired after that arrest, Napolitano got a second chance.
He lost his positions coaching cross country and track and field, but kept his teaching job by agreeing to punitive and rehabilitative measures with the school district and state.
He was hired as boys track and cross country coach at Mitchell in 2000, earning recognition for his work. The Sunshine Athletic Conference and the Pasco Times both named him 2003 boys cross country Coach of the Year.
That same year, Napolitano was charged with soliciting a prostitute after authorities said he offered an undercover police officer $20 for oral sex.
He no longer works for the school district.
Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this story. Camille C. Spencer can be reached at cspencer@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6229.
[Last modified: Nov 07, 2008 02:30 PM]
Comments on this article
by former student/athlete
Nov 7, 2008 2:30 PM
I echo Ryan's comments.
Coach Nap, I hope you get yourself straightened out. Good luck.
by NO SUPRISE
Nov 4, 2008 5:04 PM
This guy WAS a teacher, now he is just a scumbag, he deserves every day in jail he gets. I run across him weekly & he is the shadiest person ever & he was an even shadier teacher
by Mary
Nov 4, 2008 3:59 PM
Sadly, it sounds like he was doing better financially as a drug dealer than a FL teacher (driving a Lexus, $13,000 in cash.) If he were a current Pasco cop, he wouldn't have been touched.
by Old friend
Nov 3, 2008 7:07 PM
I was truely saddened to hear this news. I certainly don't condone this behavior. I truely wish Billy had gotten the help and stuck with it. He is the kind of person that makes you laugh and you know he truely cares about you when you meet him.
by Sam
Nov 3, 2008 2:53 PM
Spelling and grammar atrocious Candy. I would pick on the teachers abilities were I you.
by Ryan
Nov 3, 2008 2:52 PM
I ran under coach Nap in track and cross country, and personally I have never ever seen anything questionable with his character around students. Yes, he was a character, but I've never witnessed anything negative from the man while he was coaching.
by andy1
Nov 3, 2008 12:31 PM
What does the fact that he is a FORMER teacher have to do with his current status other than to sensationalize a rather common occurrence? Do you think people wouldn't read it unless you threw in some reference to a PAST occupation?
by angela
Nov 3, 2008 12:28 PM
he'd be perfect for hillsborough ocunty schools.
by Reality Check
Nov 3, 2008 12:20 PM
So, if he no longer works for Pasco schools..... Why bring it up? Does the SP Times have something against Pasco Schools. This is just a story about a drug dealing creep.
by Duane
Nov 2, 2008 7:35 PM
That's inflation for you, but a 33% rise seems reasonable over a 5 year span. Couldn't Kim help him out?
by Candi
Nov 2, 2008 7:30 PM
What a winner here ha?? Nasty deed's done, I wonder how many more sick one's are in classroom's with are children? How sad. :( Sure glad he dosn't work for the school district any more. Many teacher's getting cought doing disgusting thing's today.
by voxy
Nov 2, 2008 7:16 PM
i don't understand. he's perfect for the school system. like water and ice.
by David
Nov 2, 2008 3:05 PM
Lock this guy up. Drugs are a cancer to our society. They should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
by Teacher
Nov 2, 2008 2:58 PM
Tina Tiede hired him back @ Mitchell, and now she is asst. superintendent to middle schools. Great judgment call, there, and another good call Fiorentino on promoting the dummy! Some real rocket scientists out at district!
by voxy
Nov 2, 2008 2:17 PM
ms lang if you would just do this guy would save you both some trouble.
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