Henderson Little League’s finances probed

Jace Radke

Tuesday, May 23, 2000 | 11:28 a.m.

Henderson Police detectives are investigating the finances of the Green Valley Little League after league board members reported that more than $20,000 is missing from the organization's accounts.

Captain Richard Perkins said that several thousand dollars seem to be missing from the league's coffers.

"It looks like we had someone spending money on things they weren't supposed to be," Perkins said. "We have submitted the bank statements and reports to the District Attorney's Office."

About four months ago at the start of this year's season, it became clear that something had gone wrong the year before, Green Valley Little League treasurer Chuck Jones said.

"There were some problems where the old treasurer wasn't getting all the receipts from the old president," Jones said.

Jones, a Metro Police sergeant, was named treasurer this season, and Mike Scala took over as president after the previous president resigned earlier this year.

Jones and Scala estimate the league's account is about $20,000 short, forcing some budget restraints in the 74-team league that has about 900 participants between the ages of 5 and 16 years old.

"We've had to be a lot more fiscally minded and really pinch some pennies," Scala said. "We cut back our umpires in the junior division from two to one to save some."

No one has been arrested or charged in connection with the missing money, and Perkins said that police are waiting for the District Attorney's Office to determine if any charges should be made in the case.

This is not the first time that missing Little League funds have been investigated by area police.

In October of 1998 former Peccole Little League president David McCurdy was indicted in connection with over $120,000 in missing funds from his time as league president from 1993 to 1996.

McCurdy agreed in September to pay restitution and plead guilty to lesser charges.

Scala said that the Green Valley Little League has enjoyed its best year despite having to deal with the missing funds.

"Our sponsorship has been great with 97 percent of our teams sponsored, so I hope that this doesn't get blown out of proportion," Scala said. "We're looking at doing some fund-raisers to raise money for some new equipment and travel costs for any teams that advance in the playoffs."

One of the fund-raisers will be Green Valley Little League night at Cashman Field for the June 9 Las Vegas Stars game. The Stars will give the organization $1 for every ticket sold by the Little League, Scala said.