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Clark men arrested in bingo theft

October 18, 2011|By Fred Petke

A past president of the Winchester Youth Baseball League and another man were arrested last week for allegedly setting up a false organization to pay the league’s volunteers.

Larry K. Roe, 47, of 209 Sandalwood Pointe, and Mark F. Thomas, 49 of 140 Casa Landa Way, were both arrested Oct. 12 after investigators from the Kentucky Division of Charitable Gaming obtained warrants.

Both men were charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of property over $10,000. They were later released on a $7,500 surety bond.

According to court documents filed by investigator Stella Plunkett, Roe was a past president fo the WYBL. In 2009, he allegedly “solicited and assisted” Thomas in establishing another entity. The new group, called Hometown Athletics, was formed to pay WYBL’s charitable gaming volunteers. Between April 2009 and November 2009, $16,586.28 went through Hometown Athletics to pay volunteers, according to the warrant.

State law allows charitable gaming operations to use volunteers to help conduct the games, but are not allowed to be paid, compensated or receive tips. Charitable gaming is designed to be run by employees, officers or members of the organization to its benefit.

“No net receipts derived from charitable gaming shall inure to the private benefit or financial gain of any individual,” Kentucky Revised Statute 238.540 reads.

Only non-profit charitable groups, such as school boosters or volunteer fire departments, are allowed to conduct charitable gaming in Kentucky as a means of raising funds.

Plunkett said both men were interviewed and admitted to their roles.

The warrants were issued Oct. 10 and served two days later. They are scheduled to be arraigned in Clark District Court Oct. 31.

The charge is a class C felony, which carries a sentence of five to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Contact Fred Petke at fpetke@winchestersun.com.

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