Montclair Prep Twist: Brother Turns on Brother

Eric Sparks, whose older brother is the chief witness in the Southern Section’s case against Montclair Prep, has recanted much of his testimony against the school, claiming that he was misled by his brother and now believes Montclair Prep no longer deserves to be punished.

Eric Sparks, 27, a former assistant football coach at Montclair Prep, told Southern Section officials that he was duped by Jerome Sparks into believing that Montclair Prep had mistreated their nephews, Derek and Leland Sparks, former football players for the Mounties.

Sparks’ reversal came during a 5 1/2-hour meeting Thursday between officials from the Southern Section and Montclair Prep, which is seeking a reduction in penalties levied against the school. After Sparks’ testimony, the school might win at least a partial reprieve from the Southern Section.

Attorneys from each side have agreed to continue negotiations Monday. The school will seek a preliminary injunction in Van Nuys Superior Court next Friday in an effort to stay the penalties.

Montclair Prep was banned from postseason play in all sports for the 1991-92 school year, and the football team was barred from the playoffs for two seasons as part of an agreement reached between the school and the Southern Section in April.

The agreement came on the eve of a hearing to review charges of grade tampering, nonpayment of tuition by athletes and illegal recruiting.

The Southern Section launched an investigation of Montclair Prep in September, 1990, after an eligibility hearing for Leland Sparks, who won a hardship appeal and played his senior season.

Derek and Leland Sparks had transferred from Montclair Prep to Mater Dei in Santa Ana the week before the hearing, after Leland learned he was ineligible.

The investigation was prompted by the testimony of Jerome and Eric Sparks, who claimed Montclair Prep illegally recruited their nephews, changed their grades and never charged tuition.

“Jerome turned me against the people of Montclair Prep, and I’m sorry for the people that I hurt,” Eric now says.

Sparks also said that Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas told him he would grant Leland Sparks eligibility in exchange for testimony against Montclair Prep.

“He told me, ‘If you give me Montclair Prep, I’ll get eligibility for Leland,’ ” Sparks said.

Thomas denied the allegation, saying, “That is far-fetched. I don’t have the authority to give that kind of a promise.”

Sparks said that Jerome sought to discredit Montclair Prep because he was upset that the school rejected his request to join forces in his “Texas Connection” idea, a plan to bring athletes from Texas and shop them around to California high schools.

“Jerome was upset after that and we all got taken for a ride--me, Montclair Prep and the Southern Section,” Sparks said.

Jerome Sparks has denied those charges and twice has testified to the contrary at Southern Section hearings.

Eric Sparks has not talked to his brother in a year, saying he broke off the relationship after he learned of Jerome’s desire to sign their cousins to a 10-year contract that granted 10% of their earnings to Jerome. He also was upset after Jerome objected to the cost of an operation last fall to repair Leland’s injured knee.