Former Fresno City College professor and coach in court for criminal threats

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A debate over evidence led to a tense back-and-forth in Fresno District Court on Thursday, a year after a Fresno City College professor made threats in his classroom, according to prosecutors.

Edward George Madec has pleaded not guilty to threatening a public official and making other criminal threats. Investigators say the crimes occurred while Madec was in class last August.

“Each of them has their own version of the threat that Mr. Madec made,” said police officer Kaylee Olivas. “And some people say he threatened to harm other people. Some people say he threatened to kill.”

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Olivas says she questioned several students about Madec's statements in his class.

The alleged comments came years after school administrators placed Madec on leave from his job as coach of the men's basketball team for violating several bylaws. Madec sued the school, and investigators say he is still angry with the administrators.

“She stated that Mr. Madec said, 'If I didn't have children, I would come to school and shoot the three people involved,'” Olivas testified about Madec's statements, according to a student.

Madec's defense attorney Robert Carroll contradicted the officer's investigation and criticized her police report.

Carroll raised questions about the witness statements and said investigators had not presented all the evidence, including some that would have been helpful in the Madec case.

“What if I told you we have another 20 (students) who said they didn't hear any threats?” Carroll asked. “What would you say to that?”

“I didn’t reach her,” Olivas replied.

The judge said he also had concerns about the Olivas' investigation, but refused to drop the charges. He asked prosecutors to present more evidence and the court would later decide whether there was enough evidence to take the case to trial.

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