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High School Baseball Coach Benched After Criminal Record Uncovered

YUBA CITY, Calif. (CBS13) - A volunteer baseball coach at Yuba City High School has been benched after school officials learned he has a criminal record.  Still, some parents are pushing to get the coach back in the game.

Craig Vidano took the field as a volunteer freshman baseball coach this year.  But just weeks into the season, Vidano was taken off the field after school officials learned he had been convicted on federal meth charges.

Vidano admits to the charges but says, now ten years later, he is a changed man, and only wants to make a difference in the student's lives.

"I was arrested and charged and it was like boom, 'what are you doing?" explained Vidano.  "If I can prevent one kid from making a mistake in their life then everything I've done and I'm doing is worth it to me."

 Some parents agree, and fully support Vidano coaching their kids.

"He's paid his debts.  All the kids like him, they click with him, it's totally different when he's not there," said parent Ed Ali whose son is on the freshman baseball team.

The school district is now talking with federal authorities to figure out whether Vidano can return to the field.

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