School Athletic Donor Allegedly Offered Player Money for Sex

The head of a private group that raises money for Burbank schools offered a 17-year-old Burbank High football player a donation for his team’s athletic program in return for sex, according to allegations in court documents.

Salle Dumm, 50, president of the nonprofit Burbank Educational Foundation, has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges--unlawful sex with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Dumm allegedly had sex with the youth on July 14, and afterward promised to direct more money to his team if he would return to her bed the next evening, according to allegations in the criminal file of the case in Burbank Municipal Court.

Burbank Police Lt. Larry Koch said police were not notified about the incident until Nov. 17.

According to the court file, police were informed by Ann Cocreham, a school district pupil services director, who said the incident had been reported to the district by former Burbank football coach John Hazelton and a tutor.

During the police investigation, the court file said, Dumm asked the tutor to “destroy” evidence relating to the sexual encounter in a telephone call that was overheard by police.

Dumm’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 4 in Burbank Superior Court. She faces a maximum sentence of four years if convicted, Koch said.

Koch said witnesses in the case have been receiving threatening phone calls “aimed at them not coming into court.” Those phone calls are being investigated, he said.