Cops: Sparta Soccer Treasurer Swiped $7,400 From Youth Organization

A Sparta Township woman has been charged with three counts of theft after a weeks-long investigation revealed she allegedly wrote at least three checks to her personal credit card accounts out of the Sparta Soccer Club’s funds, Sparta Township Police Sgt. Dennis Proctor said.

Two Sparta Soccer Club board members notified police of several possible thefts by the organization’s treasurer in late June, Proctor said. The board members learned of the possible thefts through “questionable” checks issued by the treasurer, identified as Johanne Seeland, 47, during a six-year period, Proctor said.

Det. Joseph Antonello conducted an investigation and uncovered Seeland had allegedly used $7,409 of the Club’s money to write checks to her credit card company to pay off personal debts on “several” occasions, Proctor said.

Seeland also used funds to pay for her daughter’s league dues in another soccer club, Proctor said.

While the investigation revealed other questionable checks may have been written, the Club’s oversight of the treasury and accounting – handled by Seeland – were so “sloppy,” that Antonello was unable to determine if the checks in question were legitimate or fraudulent, Proctor said.

Seeland was charged with three third degree counts of theft and arrested on Aug. 17. She was released pending a court appearance.