Former Buckeye Valley booster treasurer pleads guilty to theft

0

The former treasurer of the Buckeye Valley Joint Boosters pleaded guilty in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Thursday afternoon to theft charges.

Laverne J. Tigges, 47, of 2300 3Bs and K Road in Sunbury, said Thursday that, while he was the treasurer of the boosters, he used booster funds to pay bills for himself and his construction business.

“It was always my intent to repay that money,” Tigges said “But as time went on, that hole became deeper and deeper and I was not able to. I was questioned by the other boosters and I told them what I had done.”

He was later indicted by a Delaware County grand jury on a charge of theft, a fourth-degree felony.

As part of a deal with county prosecutors, the theft charge was downgraded to a fifth-degree felony.

Krueger found Tigges guilty on the theft charge and ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Krueger said Tigges could face between six to 12 months in prison or a period of community control.

Krueger scheduled a sentencing hearing for Oct. 26 at 11 a.m.

Prosecutors said Tigges has already paid restitution in the case.

The indictment says the theft occurred between Sept. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2014. Prosecutors said the amount of money stolen was about $20,o00.

Prosecutors say the booster club organizes fundraisers for students in Buckeye Valley Schools and that Tigges was responsible for overseeing the boosters club’s bank account and the overall financial status of the organization.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/09/web1_tigges.jpg

By Glenn Battishill

[email protected]

Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

No posts to display