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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 16, 2004 Central Point mom pleads guilty Sandra Bleth admits stealing youth sports funds, apologizes and agrees to pay $2,300 By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune A Central Point mom accused of taking up to $6,000 from a youth basketball program offered up a quiet apology along with a guilty plea Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court. Sandra Bleth, 42, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor first-degree theft charge. The charge was reduced from a felony when she agreed to pay back $2,300 so the Central Point-Crater boys’ Amateur Athletic Union basketball teams could start their season. "I apologize," Bleth said softly as she stood before Judge Raymond White. "I’ve learned a lot ethically." White sentenced Bleth to 10 days in jail, 18 months supervised probation and 80 hours of community service. A hearing to set restitution will be held within a month. Bleth’s attorney, Martin Capetz, said he plans to have an accountant go over the financial records submitted in the case to determine the total Bleth should repay. Advertisement "She’s been cooperative the whole time," he said outside the courtroom. "She is penitent." Volunteers with the basketball program, which includes teams for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade boys, uncovered the thefts in March, board member Kelli Hogenson told the court. Flanked by parents active in the program, she outlined how the board found checks written to Bleth and her husband and finally went to Central Point police this summer. The group still struggles with debt, but is moving forward with the season, she said. They raised the fee to play and may compete in fewer tournaments than in past years. After the sentencing, Hogenson said Farber Surveying and PremierWest Bank had donated to help kids pay increased fees to play this year. Other businesses also have stepped forward to help defray league costs. "It’s nice that the community is coming together and people are seeing we are putting in safeguards," she said. The basketball program has instituted new standards for handling cash at tournaments and switched banks to accommodate real-time electronic monitoring of balances by multiple officials, she said. Bob Lee, a parent volunteer, said he hoped the case would encourage other youth-sports groups to check their safeguards and the sentence would deter similar thefts elsewhere. "This affects the whole community," he said. "Hopefully this will make people think twice." Reach reporter Anita Burkeat 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities