Posted: Feb 28, 2012 11:39 AM by Erin Yeykal
Updated: Feb 28, 2012 12:18 PM
The former treasurer of a youth baseball league accused of embezzling more than $92,000 from the organization appeared in court today.
Amy Jo Erickson, the former treasurer of Belgrade Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken Baseball, pleaded not guilty to felony embezzlement before Judge Holly Brown Tuesday morning in Gallatin County District Court.
According to court documents, Erickson embezzled a total of $92,085.48 from the organization over the last few years by writing checks to a company she and her husband owned, Erickson Plumbing. Checks were also reportedly written directly to Erickson herself and for "cash."
The matter came to the league's attention in November 2010 after questions were raised about outstanding bills for uniforms and supplies.
Police continued to look into the matter and attempted to contact Erickson for an interview, but telephone calls to her went unreturned, according to court documents.
In January 2011 Erickson agreed to speak to police, saying she was not "avoiding it anymore," and reportedly admitted to taking league funds for about four years. She said she wrote checks to her husband's plumbing company because she "needed help financially," court documents state.
She said she would give blank checks to league board members to sign, saying they would be used to pay league bills then she would take the checks and make them payable to Erickson Plumbing for various dollar amounts, court documents state.
After reviewing records, a detective found checks dating back to 2007 written to Amy Erickson and "cash."
According to Brown, the possible penalty for theft by embezzlement is one to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $50,000.
Comments