Bongivengos to stand trial for theft from youth football program

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) — A youth football coach and his wife have been ordered to stand trial on charges they stole more $3,300 from the program’s coffers.

Forty-seven-year-old Frank Bongivengo and his 46-year-old wife, Karen, have been ordered to stand trial on misdemeanor theft and conspiracy charges after a preliminary hearing on Tuesday. A forgery charge was dismissed.

The state Attorney General says the investigation began when someone made an open records inquiry about the finances of the New Castle Youth Football program. The state police investigated after the records were obtained and state police charged the Bongivengos earlier this month.

The money was taken from March to June 2009 when the couple allegedly transferred football funds to their own bank accounts to avoid overdrafts on personal checks, among other personal expenditures.