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Police track missing Little League funds Rogue River probably didn't steal, just mismanaged By SANNE SPECHT for the Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER - Unraveling the threads of the missing $8,000 to $10,000 in Little League funds is taking more time and attention than Police Chief Ken Lewis originally anticipated. A single allegation regarding missing funds quickly ballooned to about 100 tips and more than 25 personal interviews, following media reports, Lewis said. He said based on the information he's received so far, the missing funds appear to have been more mismanaged than misappropriated. "I don't think someone walked off with thousands of dollars," Lewis said. "It appears to me that the people in charge disregarded the Little League constitution. They thought they could just make rules up by themselves as they went along." Lewis declined to name specific parties, but said many current and former members of the Rogue River Little League board of directors voiced concerns regarding mishandled fund-raising activities but felt they could do nothing to stop the problem. The all-volunteer, nonprofit, 20-team league typically raises $40,000 annually through sponsorships, registration fees and candy and concession stand sales. Lewis said infighting between board members and general disorganization created a lack of accountability and an opportunity for some to take advantage of an already-chaotic situation. "They (the league members) just set their own rules about who could have free soda and hot dogs at the concession stand or who was taking home boxes of hamburger for personal barbecues. They didn't seem to understand this is theft and they could be held accountable." Lewis said he received a call from Reed Drew, charitable audit coordinator from the Oregon Department of Justice, who offered to help in the investigation, but he declined the assistance. Justice Department public information officer Victoria Cox said a formal complaint was made to the department by five-year Little League board member Stacy Thetford. In a previous interview with the Mail Tribune, Thetford said she had noticed financial problems as early as last March and had requested the Rogue River Little League perform an audit but was told it was too expensive. League President Grant Werlinger denied Thetford asked for a general audit. Cox said her department would continue monitoring the situation. Once local law enforcement has resolved its investigation, Cox said her organization would offer auditing assistance, if appropriate. "We would step in and make sure the assets of this nonprofit organization were protected for future seasons," she said. Lewis expects to wind up the investigation within two months and declined to speculate on whether criminal charges might be filed. A pitching machine, believed to have been missing for almost two years, was returned by an anonymous source last week, Lewis said. As of the end of February, Rogue River Little League had enrolled 117 players, down approximately 34 from last year. League officials say they will accept late registrations until opening day, April 13. Werlinger declined to return phone calls. Thetford was unavailable for comment. Sanne Specht is a free-lance writer living in Rogue River. Reach her at [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.