By Mary Owen
After pleading guilty to four counts of theft and one count of aggravated theft, former Stayton Booster Club treasurer Dick Morley was sentenced on Jan. 16 to 30 days in jail and 24 months of probation.
Judge Thomas Hart also mandated Morley to pay back $40,000 of the approximately $60,000 that was found missing from the Stayton High School Booster Club’s financial accounts last September. Additionally, Morley has to serve 150 hours of community service, is prohibited from serving on a nonprofit board or organization in any fiduciary capacity, and was to write letters of apology to the school, club and local newspaper.
“We hope his guilty plea vindicates the Boosters in the eyes of those who questioned his guilt,” said Shannon Sheppard, president of the Booster Club, which provides college scholarships to qualified senior athletes as well as supporting the school’s coaching staff and student athletes.
“Our efforts to provide these services to our athletes have been hindered by the actions of Mr. Morley,” Sheppard said in a letter she wrote and read to Judge Hart before Morley’s sentencing. “His misuse of our funds was morally and ethically wrong, as well as illegal. He was in a trusted position in the club and dishonored himself as well as the Booster’s reputation by his lack of good judgment.”
Sheppard said Morley’s actions failed to honor the many hours of volunteer work and thousands of dollars of community donations that the Booster Club has been given over the years. To prevent future misappropriations, Sheppard reassures supporters that the club has instituted stricter business practices.
“We appreciate the support we have from our community and believe this settlement will prove to be beneficial to our athletic programs,” she told Judge Hart. “Mr. Morley’s sentencing is but a footnote in what he really owes to the club, community, and most importantly, the athletes.”
Although club members still believe Morley owes more than the amount mandated in the plea agreement, she said, “We believe it is not in the best interest of the student athletes to continue with further civil litigation to try and get further damages. It would be costly and time consuming.”
Instead, Sheppard said the club wants to get on with the business of supporting SHS’s athletic programs.
“I’m glad to see that the Boosters will recover a portion of the funds and that the matter is concluded,” said Andy Gardner, superintendent of the North Santiam School District. “Now people can move forward.”
By press time Morley’s attorney had not returned Our Town’s call requesting a statement from his client .
