A former president of Crystal Lake Baseball charged with stealing approximately $25,000 in funds from the youth league accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to public service and making restitution payments.
Joey S. Maurer, 46, of the 1400 block of Blue Heron Drive in Crystal Lake, was indicted on one count of theft greater than $10,000 and under $100,000, a Class 2 felony.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office negotiated a plea deal with Maurer, which involved him pleading guilty to an amended charge of theft less than $500, a Class A misdemeanor. His felony charge was dropped.
McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt sentenced Maurer to 100 hours of public service and to pay $20,000 in restitution along with $1,842 in court fines and fees.
The Lake in the Hills Police Department said that board members of Crystal Lake Baseball, which is located at 8601 Pyott Road in Lake in the Hills, notified police in early 2018 after noticing suspicious transactions on the league’s bank account.
Police said that an investigation showed that Maurer made unauthorized cash withdrawals and purchases between November 2014 and September 2016, which amounted to approximately $25,000.
Crystal Lake Baseball is a non-profit organization founded in 2010. It is run by volunteers and funded by membership fees, fundraising, corporate sponsorships and concession sales, according to the organization.
Maurer was also required to write an apology letter to the organization’s executive board. In the letter he said, “I want to send my deepest apologies for the time it must have taken out of your own personal lives to deal with this matter.”
Maurer acknowledged he “did it wrong” and his ability to mismanage the league finances “brought us here.”
“Since removing myself in 2016, I have not and will not ever participate on a board or Crystal Lake Baseball. I ask that those involved forgive me and understand I never intended any harm or wrongdoing,” Maurer said in the letter.
Judge Wilbrandt barred the man from taking a position of finance or on the board of any youth sports league. Maurer will be on probation for two years, court records show.