League treasurer pleads innocent

By Elise Franco

Board members became concerned when Gary Short failed to provide financial reports.

AUSTINTOWN — Gary Short, Austintown Colts Youth League treasurer for the 2008 season, pleaded innocent Wednesday to fifth-degree felony charges of theft and forgery.

Short turned himself over to the Austintown Police Department on Tuesday and was in Mahoning County Area Court for arraignment.

He is accused by the league of misusing $3,000 from the league’s fund by forging the signature of organization President Jeffrey Jones, then writing three more checks to cash and keeping the money.

“I was appalled,” Jones said.

Short is set to appear for a pretrial hearing before Judge David D’Apolito at Mahoning County Area Court at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 22.

Police Chief Robert Gavalier said Short, if convicted on the two charges, could face between six and 12 months of jail time for each charge.

Jones said board members became concerned when Short was repeatedly asked to provide financial reports and did not.

“We had been trying to get monthly financial reports since summer, and we even asked to assist him with such things,” he said.

“We offered him all the assistance possible and never got anything.”

Jones said the board began reviewing bank statements after one member, who works for the bank the league uses, noticed a counter check Short had written Nov. 24 for $541.

“We called the bank, and I went in ... after Thanksgiving to get copies of statements and the ledger.” Three other checks were written to cash, the league president said.

Jones said the board also discovered money had been moved to the Colts’ checking account from a money market saving account.

He said the transfer was unauthorized and requires two signatures.

“The money is what we were using as a cushion for years when we go out and buy a lot of equipment and uniforms,” Jones noted.

He said several weeks ago the board held two meetings without Short to discuss a course of action, and eventually the league decided to press charges.

Jones said the board’s biggest concern now is paying outstanding invoices.

“We still have outstanding invoices that we’re unable to pay,” he said. “That’s the position it’s put us in.”

efranco@vindy.com