Federal Way police have found probable cause to charge a 42-year-old Federal Way woman after nearly $34,000 went missing from three local sports organizations.
Police forwarded a determination of probable cause to the King County Prosecutor’s Office with a recommendation to charge the suspect with theft in the first-degree after a nearly two-month investigation. The case now falls into the hands of the prosecutor’s office, which will determine if there is enough evidence to charge the suspect.
The Mirror called a number listed for the suspect, but was unable to leave a message because the voicemail was full. The suspect is not being named until charges are filed.
According to police documents, unauthorized checks were written from accounts connected with the Puget Sound Junior Football Association, the Federal Way Hawks Junior Football Association and Federal Way American Little League.
According to police, the suspect was a treasurer of all three organizations at different points and had access to their bank accounts.
The Federal Way Hawks football program appears to be the hardest hit. According to the police investigation, the Hawks lost a total of $17,837.45 from unauthorized checks signed by the suspect. The Puget Sound Junior Football Association, which consists of six franchises in South King County, reported $9,241.72 in suspicious checks and Federal Way American’s total loss is $6,888.03 for a grand total of $33,967.20.
According to documents, the suspect did admit during an April 15 interview at the Federal Way Police Department to writing a $4,000 check from the Federal Way Hawks account, and two checks from Puget Sound Junior Football Association and Federal Way American for $3,000 each.
“(The suspect) stated she took the money to get her home out of foreclosure,” police documents said. “She adamantly denied taking more than the $10,000 she admitted to taking for her mortgage. Her house was in foreclosure and (the suspect) said she used the $10,000 to get her mortgage up to date.”
The admission came after the suspect initially denied any knowledge of missing money or writing unauthorized checks, police said.
According to police documents, Federal Way police became involved in the investigation Feb. 23 when Klaus Nalley, the commissioner of the Puget Sound Junior Football League, informed him that he found suspicious activity in the league’s checkbook, and that the suspect was the only person who had access to the checks in the league’s accounts.
Nalley told Federal Way police there were 10 transactions totaling $9,241.72 that were unauthorized by the PSJFL board. He also provided police with copies of the suspicious checks, according to documents. The checks were written from July 2007 to December 2008, including a $3,000 check for “cash” on Aug. 20, 2007 and a $3,000 check written to Federal Way American Little League on Jan. 1, 2008.
During the interview, Nalley also informed police that the suspect was also the treasurer for the Federal Way Junior Football Hawks and Federal Way American Little League, documents said.
Current Federal Way American vice president Robert Clinton spoke to police on March 19 and told them the suspect had been the treasurer of the league since 2006, according to documents. Clinton located four unauthorized checks in the amount of $6,888.03 and that all the checks were signed by the suspect and not authorized by the league’s board.
Federal Way Hawks president Mike Barnhart provided Federal Way police with a statement on April 9, and told them the league had located 10 unauthorized checks from two different accounts and a wire transfer for a loan payment to Citi Residential in the amount of $4,000, according to documents.
“Barnhart stated all checks were signed by (the suspect) and not authorized by the FWJF board,” documents said. The checks were written from April 2008 to Nov. 2008 in the amount of $17,837.45.
The Federal Way Hawks have been in continuous operation since 1970, providing the only non-school football program in the Federal Way area. The Hawks currently have five football teams and five cheerleading teams, made up of 7- to 14-year-olds from the Federal Way area. Last season, there were close to 300 kids involved.
Each player is responsible for a $130 basic registration fee, which covers equipment, insurance, league fees, fields and expenses. Players also have to pay a $50 refundable volunteer fee, $10 for treats, $10 for a trophy and $5 for socks and a mouth guard.
The Hawks are a part of the Puget Sound Junior Football League, which also includes programs from Auburn, Renton, Kent and other cities around South King County.
Federal Way American Little League is also an all-volunteer association. Fees for players vary on age, but range from $50 per kid in T-ball to $150 a player at the junior and senior Little League level.
In the state of Washington, first-degree theft states that the item or services stolen must be worth more than $1,500. First-degree theft is considered a Class B felony and, if convicted, the maximum sentence is 10 years in jail and/or a $20,000 fine.
