Treasurer accused of stealing from Illinois softball teams

A girls softball organization based in Glen Carbon is reeling from news that its treasurer allegedly stole more than $64,000.

“It hurts when you spend all that time and energy and something like this happens,” said Scott Griffith, coach and former president Esprit Metro Fastpitch Softball. “You expect better from people.”

Griffith said he could not say more because of the pending litigation and referred questions about the organization to its current leader, who did not respond to a request for comment.

Attempts to reach the other coaches were also unsuccessful.

Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Hain Heather S. Sullivan, 37, of Rudhouse, was charged last week with two counts of felony (Class 2) larceny over $10,000 and under $100,000.

Roodhouse is located in Greene County, about 60 miles northwest of Edwardsville.

“(Sullivan) knowingly obtained unauthorized control of property of Esprit Metro Fastpitch, which is US currency in the amount of approximately $64,204.22,” the indictment states.

The theft is believed to have occurred between August 1, 2021 and March 7, 2022.

Associate Justice Janet Heflin set Sullivan’s bond at $80,000. Sullivan was scheduled to surrender to authorities Friday, according to the state attorney’s office. She had not been booked into the Madison County Jail late last night.

Glen Carbon Police Department this is an investigative agency.

“(The softball organization has) a post office box in Glen Carbon, so that’s in our jurisdiction,” said Colleen Schaller, administrative manager of public safety, on behalf of Chief Todd Link.

Schaller said Link would not comment further due to the ongoing investigation.

Esprit Metro Fastpitch Softball is an umbrella organization for women’s softball teams with members from Edwardsville, Troy, Alton, Breeze, Lebanon, Granite City, O’Phelan, Bethalto, Jerseyville and other communities in southwestern Illinois, as well as some from Missouri.

The penalty for a Class 2 felony conviction in Illinois is three to seven years in prison.