Deborah L. Angilley, a parent and former coach with the club, appeared in Superior Court on July 9 and returned to her home in Wenatchee, prosecuting attorney Rosie Martinelli said.

Angilley is charged with 11 counts of first-degree theft and two counts of second-degree theft. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Thursday, with a trial set for Sept. 23.

Angilley wrote in a May letter to the club’s attorney that she disagreed with the charges and was organizing her documents to counter the claims.

The Fife-Milton-Edgewood Soccer Club still does not know exactly how much is missing. Club President Jeff Flesner said at least $50,000 was taken, and court documents estimate the number at about $72,000.

The nonprofit’s annual budget is roughly $67,000, Flesner said. The club consists of about 700 players between the ages of 4 and 17 on 70 teams.

“The club almost folded due to this theft, but has stayed in existence only through the generosity of those that have loaned us about $40,000,” Flesner said in a victim impact statement filed with Pierce County Superior Court.

“We have also lost credibility with some of the local youth, local sponsors, businesses, and creditors,” Flesner added.

Angilley moved from the South Sound last fall because her husband had a job relocation, Flesner said.

Angilley is accused of transferring more than $40,000 to her personal account from September 2006 to October 2007. She also allegedly made ATM withdrawals at Emerald Queen Casino and wrote 129 checks to local casinos totaling more than $8,000.

Court documents also say that she wrote checks from the club’s account for her own expenses such as rent, cell phone bills and credit card payments.

The 11 first-degree theft charges are each tied to a month that Angilley worked for the club and more than $1,500 was missing.

The two counts of second-degree theft were for months that the missing amount was less.

Angilley did not return a reporter’s message left at her home seeking comment.

David Painton, a retired accountant who is serving as the soccer club’s interim treasurer, said the club must watch more.

“This kind of stuff happens, and people say we’re too trusting,” Painton said. “We’ve just got to be more aware and more involved in the accounting function of the organization.”

He said about $40,000 has been loaned to the club to keep it afloat, including from the Pierce County Junior Soccer Association.

But Flesner’s statement says that expenses are piling up and the club has not been able to pay youth referees or give tokens of recognition to players and volunteers.

The problems came to light in September, when a bank employee noticed suspicious transactions on the soccer club’s account and spoke with a Pierce County Sheriff’s deputy, according to court documents.

At first the club thought it was a misunderstanding and that the bank was being overzealous, the documents state.

But within a couple months, the club began to suspect embezzlement after it was contacted by creditors for unpaid expenses.

Some board members looked into the accounts, found irregularities and confronted Angilley, court documents say. The sheriff’s office began a deeper investigation around the same time.

Flesner said Angilley gave excuses that were initially reasonable to the board.

“They were fairly plausible explanations … plausible and not necessarily correct,” he said.

Angilley wrote that “consideration for deposits made into the club’s account by myself have not been taken into account.”

Felsner said he does not know exactly how long it will take for the club to balance its books, but he expects it will take a while even though player registration is up and the club has a large fundraiser planned this fall.

Painton is reviewing the records to try to figure out what happened, but also to stabilize the budget. He set up online banking so club officers can review the funds, and he brings statements to board meetings, he said.

The club is asking for $53,000 in restitution, which Flesner wrote is based on a quick calculation. Officials say it’s difficult to come up with a firm number because Angilley did not return the majority of the club’s financial records.

“Most importantly to us is the fact that the local youth in the club have gotten the wrong message from this experience,” Flesner wrote.

Brian Everstine: 253-597-8374