Team still imperiled by debt

GLENDALE — The Glendale Bears Youth Football and Cheerleading hasn’t recovered financially from the more than $30,000 embezzled from the group last year, putting the coming season in jeopardy.

The organization, established nearly 40 years ago, has a debt of $15,000 stemming from the theft by their former treasurer, Glendale Bears President Tina Marquez said.

If the organization doesn’t pay down their deficit, she said, they might not play the 2009-10 season.

“If we can’t pay fees, then there is not going to be any more Glendale Bears,” Marquez said.

Louella Lucas Ragland, 39, of Los Angeles, was convicted of felony embezzlement Dec. 8 for stealing $31,222 from them. She took a plea deal that offered 180 days in jail rather than the maximum three years in state prison.

Ragland was ordered to serve three years’ probation and repay the money that she stole.

But the organization hasn’t received any money from her yet, Marquez said.

Glendale Bears realized Ragland stole the money after she suddenly disappeared.

They had a large enrollment drive on July 12 to fund the 2008 season, and Ragland had participated in the drive and collected enrollment fees. Organization members tried to contact Ragland about the money days later, but they didn’t hear from her.

The organization was left without any money, so it conducted fundraisers to earn money for the season. Many parents stayed with the organization despite the money loss, but others pulled their children out of Glendale Bears.

“We worked really hard to get funds,” parent Daisy Rovira said.

But Glendale Bears still owed money to vendors and other groups, she said.

When Ragland was arrested, she confessed to taking about 30% of the funds, but evidence shows she stole the entire amount, Glendale Det. Patrick Magtoto said.

Ragland reportedly used the money to travel to the Philippines and pay off medical bills, according to police reports.

Her actions have devastated the Glendale Bears financially, Rovira said.

Rovira’s sons have been playing with the organization for 10 years, and she had never seen it struggle as it has in the last year.

The Glendale Bears have shaped her sons’ lives, she said.

“It makes them strong,” she said. “It gives them a positive interaction.”

If the Glendale Bears don’t have a season, Rovira said she doesn’t know what her family would do since they have dedicated so much time to it.

The organization had given a $4,000 deposit for new uniforms for six teams, so the vendor made the players’ outfits, Marquez said. But when the money was stolen, it couldn’t pay the vendor the remaining balance for the uniforms, which was $9,000.

The vendor was left with hundreds of uniforms, and has demanded that the organization pay the outstanding balance, she said.

The organization owes Sport Chalet $5,000 for protective gear for the players, and it needs money to get new helmets, Marquez said.

But Marquez fears that the organization is burning bridges with longtime vendors because it is unable to pay money owed to them.

“It’s like a never-ending cycle,” she said.

The organization earned enough money from its snack bar last season to pay for field usage for games and practices this year, Marquez said.

But if the Glendale Bears can’t raise enough money to pay its membership to the San Gabriel Valley Junior All-American Football Conference, which organizes teams and sets up game schedules, it will have to skip the season, she said. The conference charges $10,000 for membership.

Parent Teresa Carrillo’s 10-year-old daughter is on one of the organization’s cheerleading squads.

Her daughter looks forward to participating in every season.

“It brings her out because she used to be shy,” she said.

Despite the uncertain future, the Glendale Bears will hold registration sign-ups from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Glendale High School.

 VERONICA ROCHA covers public safety and the courts. She may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.