Former Scotch Plains PAL Treasurer Charged For Taking $18,000 Of Nonprofit Funds

The former treasurer of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Police Athletic League (PAL) was charged today for taking $18,000 from the organization’s account for his own personal use.

Scotch Plains Police Officer James Denman, 50, allegedly took the funds in December 2013, while he was off-duty from his police work, without the permission of any PAL executive or board members. He then repaid the sum total of the previously taken funds in April 2014.

PAL is a private nonprofit organization, which focuses on youth sports.

Denman is charged with a single count of third-degree misapplication of trust funds and his first appearance in court is scheduled to take place on Monday, December 15 before Union County Presiding Judge Joan Robinson Gross.