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Coach, boyfriend face theft charges
By Matt Heilman
Last Updated: November 20, 2014

Accused of stealing from junior cheerleading program

The former director of the Valley Center Junior Cheer Program, accused last month of embezzling more than $20,000, was arrested Nov. 12 following questioning from authorities at the Valley Center Police Station. The former cheer director, Tabitha Marie Bates, and her boyfriend, Russell Damiane Hartlein, were arrested on suspicion of felony theft. In the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office booking report from Nov. 12, Hartlein's specific charge was listed as "theft by deception." Bates' charge was listed as "theft of property or services."

The couple has since been released on bond, which was set at $2,500.

Valley Center Police Chief Mark Hephner said 66 victims allegedly entrusted money to Bates to purchase equipment, including bags, wind suits, shoes and other items, for the junior cheer squad.

The junior cheer program is not affiliated with the Valley Center school district or the city's recreation commission.

On Nov. 12, Hephner said $8,000 to $16,000 of the money entrusted to Bates is unaccounted for. The money was reportedly in Bate's personal bank account.

Hephner said the evidence from the investigation would be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office next week. So far, none of the missing money has been recovered.

Hephner said the investigation is taking time due to the number of victims and separate transactions that have to be reviewed.

"It's been an ongoing thing," he said. "Not all (66 victims) gave the same amount and got the same thing. Each one had to be contacted about what their loss was. It's been a tedious process."

Until the case is presented to prosecutors, Hephner said he couldn't share much about the specifics of the investigation, including how Hartlein is involved.

"We developed enough probable cause in the investigation to make an arrest," he said.  

This week, Hephner said investigators were still waiting on bank statements to continue the investigation.

The Nov. 12 arrest was not the first for Hartlein on charges picked up in Valley Center. In January 2009, he received probation in connection with a 2008 shooting in front of an industrial business in the city, National Plastic Color, in the 100 block of Industrial Street.

Hartlein had been charged with aggravated battery, but pleaded to a lesser charge, which accused him of harboring, concealing or aiding a felon to avoid escape from arrest, trial, conviction or punishment. In the April 2008 shooting where a co-worker at National Plastic Color was hospitalized with a gunshot wound, Larry Anderson was sentenced to 36 months probation after pleading guilty to aggravated battery.





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