Plum Borough Athletic Association President Richard Claypoole was arraigned this afternoon on one charge each of theft by deception and misappropriation of funds.
Allegheny County District Attorney's Office Detective Kevin P. Flanigan filed the charges at Plum District Judge Linda Zucco's office following a nearly eight-month investigation into the finances of Claypoole and the nonprofit group.
Authorities allege that Claypoole, 68, of Plum, unlawfully increased by $18,095 the prices of items purchased from third-party vendors "to benefit himself and not for the benefit of the association," according to an affidavit of probable cause, filed with Zucco's office, to support the charges.
Claypoole surrendered to authorities at Zucco's office at about 1 p.m.
Zucco arraigned Claypoole on the charges and released him on his own recognizance pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 7. His attorney, Robert Leight, of the Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick and Raspanti law firm, based in Pittsburgh, said he plans to ask for a new hearing date.
"Mr. Claypoole owns a company, Richmar, which is a vendor to the association, and marked up items 20 percent over a three-year period, and we believe that was legal," Leight said. "It is a legal question. We look forward to defending the charges vigorously in court."
Claypoole had no comment.
About 1,000 children from Plum and neighboring communities participate in the athletic association's baseball and softball programs.
