No-Contest Plea in Fund Theft

The former head of a youth softball league in Sunland-Tujunga pleaded no contest Monday to a charge of embezzling approximately $9,000 from the league, officials said.

Karen D. Moore, 42, entered the plea in San Fernando Superior Court, which currently meets in Van Nuys. She could be sentenced to a maximum of one year in jail for taking the money from the Sunland-Tujunga Community Softball League, but sentencing was put off until June, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan Damon.

“In between now and June 1, she has to do everything she can to come up with the appropriate reimbursement,” Damon said. “Depending on how well she does her reimbursement, it can help her out with her sentence.”

Neither Moore nor her attorney, Los Angeles County Public Defender C. Edward Mack, could be reached for comment.

The current league president, Cory Smith, said Moore came under suspicion in May when checks to an umpire association, an insurance company and others were returned because of insufficient funds in the league’s account.

“We started our own internal investigation because we had the money,” Smith said Monday. “[Moore] would say the bills were paid, but when we asked her if she could prove it, she couldn’t.”

The nonprofit league required that two officials sign a check before it was issued. To divert the funds to herself, Moore would tell another official that she had to pay some bills and ask that person to sign blank checks, Damon said.

“I had no reason not to believe her,” said Smith. “I’d sign three or four of them at a time.”

Damon said that funds from about nine checks were diverted this way.

“Mr. Smith would sign his name and then she would fill out the check to ‘Cash,’ sign her name, and cash the check,” Damon said.

After an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Moore was arrested Aug. 27. She was held in custody until Sept. 5, when she posted bail.

In accepting her plea, San Fernando Superior Court Judge Kenneth Freeman ordered her to reimburse the league $9,000, a figure recommended by the district attorney’s office based on its investigation.

Smith estimated that the league actually lost closer to $10,000, but he said that he was satisfied with the result of Moore’s plea.

“It was a long six-month ordeal, and we’re glad to have it resolved,” he said. “I hope she will pay it back because the league really can use the money.”

The league receives its revenues from player registration fees and donations from community groups and area businesses, Smith said.

The money is used for operating expenses as well as for uniforms and trophies awarded to the players at the end of the season. The league is open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Despite the loss of revenue, the 17-year-old fast-pitch league was able to rely on patient creditors and generous community support to make up the shortfall, Smith said. All games were played as scheduled.

Only the older athletes knew about the shortfall, Smith said, and because no games were interrupted, it did not faze them.

“They didn’t pay much attention to it,” Smith said. “All they want to do is come out on Saturdays and play ball.”