Bristol Man Charged With Embezzling from RI Softball Association

The former treasurer of the Rhode Island Fast Pitch Softball Coaches Association has been arrested on embezzlement charges.

Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Col. Steven G. O’Donnell said Saturday in a news release that $12,347 was taken from the coaches association by Steven W. Zina, 55, of 17 Charlotte Drive, Bristol.

O’Donnell said on Wednesday, a trooper in the Wickford Barracks started an investigation at the request of members of the association. They were concerned that Zina had taken money from the nonprofit, O’Donnell said.

A review of bank records showed that the money was in fact stolen and Zina was discovered to have previous felony arrests from Bristol police on Aug. 22 of 2014 and Jan. 31 of 2015 on similar charges.

Zina was arrested without incident on Friday. He faced a justice of the peace during a special arraignment at the Wickford Barracks on charges of felony embezzlement, compounding a felony and obtaining money under false pretenses.

He was ordered held at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston with a Third Division District Court Date for Monday.

Zina was arrested in 2014 for stealing more than $19,000 in money from the Mt. Hope High Booster Club.