JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The day the former treasurer of the First Coast Soccer Association was sentenced for stealing thousands of dollars from the group, the association's former president was arrested and charged with grand theft.
Circuit Judge Karen Cole Monday sentenced Karen Edenfield (pictured, right) to spend the next 10 years on probation and to pay $82,000 in restitution. She pleaded guilty in December to stealing between $66,000 and $82,000 from the league.
Edenfield faced up to 15 years in prison.
At the sentencing hearing, Edenfield made a tearful apology for taking the money and promised to testify against others who embezzled.
"She wanted to come clean," Edenfield's attorney, Chief Assistant Public Defender Bill White, said. "She's going to try to put her life back together."
The prosecutor was pleased with the sentence.
"The kids are going to get their money back and she's now a convicted felon, and that will have an impact on her life," Assistant State Attorney Shawn Arnold said.
Monday afternoon, prosecutors announced the arrest of William Bell, past president of the association, whom they accused of the stealing between $10,000 to $11,000.
He was charged with grand theft, a third-degree felony.
"I never did anything for First Coast Soccer except work my (bleep) off for them," Bell told Channel 4's Corey Saban as he was led to jail in handcuffs.
Bell was released on $5,000 bond a few hours after his arrest.
Arnold, a special prosecutor with the state attorney's office, told Channel 4 that there was "a culture of theft" between the two officers of the association.
Authorities said previously that determining the exact amount of money missing was difficult because of poor accounting practices.
Ironically, the new board members of the First Coast Soccer Association had a scheduled board meeting Monday. They were reluctant to be the center of media attention for the actions of previous members, but admitted they learned from the experience.
"We've put things in order and the club is strong -- stronger then ever," new association president Carlos Compos said. "Some lessons have been learned."
http://www.news4jax.com/news/2905440/detail.html
Circuit Judge Karen Cole Monday sentenced Karen Edenfield (pictured, right) to spend the next 10 years on probation and to pay $82,000 in restitution. She pleaded guilty in December to stealing between $66,000 and $82,000 from the league.
Edenfield faced up to 15 years in prison.
At the sentencing hearing, Edenfield made a tearful apology for taking the money and promised to testify against others who embezzled.
"She wanted to come clean," Edenfield's attorney, Chief Assistant Public Defender Bill White, said. "She's going to try to put her life back together."
The prosecutor was pleased with the sentence.
"The kids are going to get their money back and she's now a convicted felon, and that will have an impact on her life," Assistant State Attorney Shawn Arnold said.
Monday afternoon, prosecutors announced the arrest of William Bell, past president of the association, whom they accused of the stealing between $10,000 to $11,000.
He was charged with grand theft, a third-degree felony.
"I never did anything for First Coast Soccer except work my (bleep) off for them," Bell told Channel 4's Corey Saban as he was led to jail in handcuffs.
Bell was released on $5,000 bond a few hours after his arrest.
Arnold, a special prosecutor with the state attorney's office, told Channel 4 that there was "a culture of theft" between the two officers of the association.
Authorities said previously that determining the exact amount of money missing was difficult because of poor accounting practices.
Ironically, the new board members of the First Coast Soccer Association had a scheduled board meeting Monday. They were reluctant to be the center of media attention for the actions of previous members, but admitted they learned from the experience.
"We've put things in order and the club is strong -- stronger then ever," new association president Carlos Compos said. "Some lessons have been learned."
http://www.news4jax.com/news/2905440/detail.html
