As of Wednesday afternoon, Sammamish police were in the process of gathering evidence against a Sammamish man accused of embezzling more than $21,000 from the Spartan Baseball Club, a summer league for boys ages 8 to 13.
The suspect was arrested last Wednesday, Feb. 10, and booked into the King County Jail for investigation of theft, after the club, of which he was treasurer, noticed the most recent in a long list of financial transgressions.
The suspect is a parent of one of the players. According to police reports, he used an ATM card for the league’s accounts at least 90 times — stealing thousands of dollars earmarked for uniforms, equipment, and other expenses.
Sammamish Police Detective Steve Perry told The Reporter this week the baseball club had initially tried to work the matter out internally, hoping the suspect would pay back the several thousands of dollars which had gone astray. But when it became apparent this would not happen, they contacted Sammamish Police.
On Wednesday of this week Perry was in the process of getting search warrants on the suspect’s two home computers, after which they would be examined by the King County Complex Prosecutions Unit, which specializes in fraud, forgeries and embezzlement. Unit officers will attempt to ascertain when particular documents were drafted. Perry said he would wait until this evidence was gathered before presenting a case to the King County Prosecuting Attorney.
“We will wait to file until we get the forensic report back,” he said. “The case is very solid at this point. But it never hurts to have more convicting evidence.”
Det. Perry said it was now a matter of waiting until the Complex Prosecutions Unit was available. The unit has only two officers, and property crimes, such as this one, receive a lower priority than crimes against persons, such as murders.
Until he is charged by the King County Prosecuting Attorney, he will not be named by The Reporter.
The Spartan Baseball Club was formed in partnership with Sammamish Little League, and includes more than 130 young players.
