STANWOOD — Prosecutors on Wednesday filed a felony theft charge against the former treasurer of the Stanwood Camano Little League.
Rick Rozzini is accused of embezzling about $42,000 from the youth baseball organization between 2011 and 2013. Court documents say Rozzini has paid back about $25,000.
Rozzini, 43, reportedly told a Stanwood police detective that he used the money to “survive and pay his bills.”
He also allegedly admitted that he had stolen money during his entire two-year tenure and lost track of how much he pocketed, prosecutors wrote in charging documents.
An audit uncovered that $42,342.96 was missing from the league’s coffers, court papers said.
Before charges were filed, Rozzini paid back more than half the money.
League President Rick Randall said new safeguards have been put in place to avoid future thefts. The league has been working with its insurance company since reporting the alleged theft to police.
Meanwhile, the board has been heartened by the outpouring of support for the organization.
“We’re confident that the league can move forward and put this behind us. Due to the support from the community, everything looks great for the 2014 season,” Randall said Thursday.
Once the allegations became public, league supporters stepped up with generous donations, said Randall, a Stanwood City Councilman, who also is the chairman of the city’s finance committee.
The league received upwards of $8,000 in donations. The largest contribution, $5,000, came from Todd Busby with Process Solutions, a Stanwood-based company.
The league serves hundreds of young people ages 5 to 18. Registration is ongoing and games are expected to begin in April.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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