Casselberry, Florida (The Weekly Vice) -- A Casselberry Little League Baseball organization has been forced to postpone the beginning of it's fall season after one of it's board members allegedly stole nearly $5,000 from it, severely damaging the organizations finances.
Patricia Ann Penn, a 41-year-old year old Florida woman and Little League board member has been arrested on at least one count of larceny after Police and organization members say she stole thousands of dollars from the league.
According to Seminole County Authorities, Penn was arrested on Monday after Little League officials told deputies that Penn maxed out the league's credit card after purchasing multiple personal items at various gas stations and shopping centers like Sam's Club.
Little League president, Darrin Sink also said cash had been missing from the League's concession stand since January, but he and other board members didn't suspect Penn was stealing the money until last April.
Sink told investigators that cash registersin the concession stand were regularly having problems and came up short on cash often. "I paid for a soda with $100 bill, and by the end of the day, that bill was missing from the register. Sink was the only one handling the deposit," said Sink.
When the issue of missing money came before the board, Penn suggested limiting the number of children allowed in the concession stand area to minimize opportunities for theft. When the board discussed the idea of installing a security camera, Penn turned down the idea, citing it was "too costly," according to Sink.
The Seminole County arrested report states that Penn allegedly confessed to stealing the money when confronted by the League's president and his wife.
"After admitting to it and crying on the phone, she turned around and used the card to make more purchases," Sink said.
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
It may just be us, however just one look at her gives us the impression that she'd have trouble operating a blender, let alone boarding a Little League organization with access to thousands of dollars.
We're a bit curious though. The Little League president said they confronted the woman, she admitted to her activities and then went back and spent more money. That statement begs this follow up question.
Why the hell would this woman CONTINUE having access to funds after already admitting to theft? Why would nobody notice THOUSANDS of dollars missing from a credit card and a concession stand register?
Although blame belongs squarely on the thief who stole the funds, it sounds to us like there should be plenty of blame to go around here and heads perhaps should be rolling besides Penn.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com
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