NEWS: No Charges in High School Sports Fundraising Money Theft
Scotts Valley Police thought they had uncovered who was responsible for the theft of more than $25,000 raised by the Harbor High football team and stolen from the coach’s office in Scotts Valley. However, the District Attorney’s office decided the case is not strong enough.
Chief deputy district attorney Jeff Rosell announced Oct. 28 that unless additional information is forthcoming, no charges will be filed.
“We recently received follow-up investigation by Scotts Valley Police. Unfortunately, there is still insufficient evidence to determine who is responsible for the theft,” he said.
Both Scotts Valley Police and the D.A.’s office had been cautious about their chances of prosecuting a suspect. Although police confirmed the investigation named a single individual, no name was released.
The evidence is circumstantial and faces a high burden of proof, attorneys warned previously.
The stolen money — about $13,500 in cash and $12,000 in checks — was raised by the Harbor High football team over the summer and was being held by the team’s coach in his office when it was taken from his locked desk in late August just as school began. The coach was eliminated as a suspect after passing a lie detector test, Scotts Valley Police earlier confirmed.
Nothing else was taken or disturbed in the office.
The loss is covered by the Santa Cruz City School District’s insurance policy, district officials have said.
