Youth Baseball Volunteer Charged in Grand Theft

A 45-year-old Sarasota woman faces grand theft charges after police say she swiped cash from a youth baseball organization.

Janet Best was charged in the felony case on Tuesday, the Sarasota Police Department wrote in an email to media. Police say she took nearly $500 from Sarasota County Youth Baseball. Best served as the organization’s treasurer, but resigned from the post “when the criminal activity was discovered,” the email said.

Detectives say between Aug. 28-30, she was working with a volunteer at the concession stand when the volunteer noticed Best completing orders, but not typing anything into the cash register.

“Other volunteers took note of what Best was doing and noticed she was keeping a written log of the amount of the transactions which she was not putting in the cash register,” the email said. “Volunteers captured cell phone video of Best taking money from the register and placing it into her back pocket.”

That video was sent to the organization’s staff. They, in turn, notified police.

Detectives ultimately say she took $477.25. The money was returned to the organization by Best’s mother, who served as the group’s secretary. She also resigned, police noted.

“This individual is stealing from children in our city. It’s despicable,” Lt. Randy Boyd, Sarasota Police Criminal Investigations Division, was quoted in the email as saying. “If anyone thinks they can take money from our children and our youth programs without consequences, they are mistaken. We will catch them and will work to prosecute them.”

In addition to the grand theft charge, Best has been charged with a narcotics violation.

Best was booked into the Sarasota County Jail, but was later released in lieu of $15,120 bond.

Anyone with further information in the case is asked to contact Detective Dwayne Shellhammer at 941-954-7014 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477). Tips may also be submitted online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.

Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota County Jail