SUBJECT: Embezzlement

Date: August 21, 2006

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Detective R. Gunderson

Post Falls Police Detectives are investigating the reported embezzlement theft of funds from the checking and savings accounts for the Post Falls Little League (PFLL) baseball organization. 

Police were called by the originations President after he recently discovered that many vendors who supplied products or materials to the Post Falls Little League had not been paid. The PFLL President checked the PFLL bank accounts and discovered that nearly all of their money was missing from their accounts. He called for an emergency board meeting on Wednesday Aug 16th and requested that the Treasurer James Harris produce bank records and account balances. 

Treasurer James Harris appeared at the meeting and turned over a deposit slip showing a large deposit was made on that date (8/16). Harris claimed the vendors had now been paid. On Thursday August 17th, the Post Falls branch of Mountain West Bank verified that the check deposited by Mr. Harris was a counterfeit check and checks written to vendors would be insufficient funds checks. They obtained bank records showing thousands of dollars in checks were written to James Harris. The Post Falls Little League currently has 55-teams (600-players), the Post Falls Little League has outstanding debts; with no money to cover the debts. PFLL estimates the loss of this embezzlement at approximately $30,000.00. 

Post Falls Police have made several unsuccessful attempts to locate Harris at his residence to question him about the missing money, counterfeit check & NSF checks written to various organizations. By Saturday, James Harris's mother reported him a missing person. Andrea Harris received three phone calls Saturday from her son, who reportedly admitted that eh embezzled the money and told her that he would not be returning home. James Harris is entered into NCIC as a missing person. Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of James Harris or his white 98' Ford Ranger pickup truck bearing Idaho license plate K305501 are asked to call the Post Falls Police Department.  

AUTHOR: R. Gunderson

Suspect - James Harris

********Update**********

 Former Post Falls Little League Treasurer James A. Harris who was wanted by police, and reported missing by family members, turned himself in at the Post Falls Police Department on Sunday, October 1, 2006. He was accompanied by his parents. Harris was wanted for a Grand Theft warrant for his suspected embezzlement of approximately $30,000.00 from the Post Falls Little League bank accounts and fund raising money collected by the Little League players. The Post Falls Little League consists of 55-teams & 600-players.

James Harris resigned his treasurer’s position on the evening of August 16th, when an emergency board meeting was called to investigate the loss of league funds. Harris produced a counterfeit check for $28,212.00 which he claimed would cover the losses. Harris then disappeared early the following morning and had not been seen since. Little League Board President Scott Krallman was informed by the Bank, that the check given by James Harris was a counterfeit check.

After the Sunday arrest, Harris refused to talk to police about the embezzlement theft case, indicating that he was seeking legal counsel and was advised not to comment about the case. Post Falls Police investigators are still unsure where Harris has been since his disappearance in the early morning hours of August 17th, and are uncertain what happened to the missing Little League money, which at this time has not been recovered.