A woman serving as treasurer/bookkeeper of a Little League organization in the Florida Panhandle is accused of stealing nearly $17,000 in league funds for her own use.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old Paula Pugh is charged with grand theft and fraud for transactions totaling $16,977.87 made over a 17-month period between July 2021 and December 2022.

According to the ECSO arrest report, John Maughon, president of the Northwest Escambia Little League, alerted law enforcement last December to the suspected theft.

Investigators obtained bookkeeping records and bank records which showed transactions reportedly made by Pugh from the league account held at First National Bank in Atmore, Alabama. The transactions, unauthorized by the league’s board of directors, included ATM withdrawals, debit card purchases and checks cashed.

The documents obtained by investigators show Pugh cashed checks from the league account for amounts ranging from $530 to $2,000. There were 25 separate ATM withdrawals, all but one completed at First National Bank in Atmore, ranging in amounts from $40 to $300, according to the sheriff’s office.

In all, there were 43 unauthorized transactions listed in the arrest report. None of the transactions cited in the arrest report had supporting receipts or other documentation, according to investigators.

An investigator met with Pugh on March 8, at which time she reportedly told the investigator she would be about to provide documentation for the transactions.

By April 3, Pugh had still not provided the documentation and instead told the investigator she would be meeting with an attorney. The investigator noted in his report he had no contact with Pugh after that.

Pugh was taken into custody and booked into the Escambia County Jail Monday. She was later released after posting $2,500 bond.

Pugh had served as the league’s treasurer/bookkeeper since 2017. She is also a teacher at Northview High School, although the school’s website lists her as “Star Pugh.”

WEAR reported the Escambia County School District was aware of the situation and following normal disciplinary procedures, but had no other comment.