BROOKSVILLE — A Bracken County man recently entered a guilty plea to charges related to the theft of money from the Bracken County Tiger Football team.
According to the Bracken County Circuit Clerk’s Office, Granville Combs, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by unlawful taking more than $500, but less than $10,000.
He is scheduled for sentencing on April 18.
Combs served as the treasurer of the Bracken County Tiger Football program.
During his time in the position, he took $7,880.36 from the organization between June 28, 2017 and Sept. 21, 2018, according to an indictment handed down by a Bracken County grand jury.
Combs was arrested on Jan. 17, 2018, during an arraignment in Bracken County Circuit Court. He was lodged in the Mason County Detention Center and was released the same day on 10 percent of a $100,000 cash bond.
Combs was suspected after board members for the team began to question the finances presented.
In October, Jessica Baessler, who serves as secretary for the organization, said parents and board members recently began questioning the finances of the organization and asked to see a bank statement.
“A board meeting was called and instead of an actual bank statement, as requested, we were given a verbal financial report, which threw up a red flag,” Baessler said. “Another board member, who was not on the account, went to the bank and was given a statement. We then discovered the money was gone and contact the Kentucky State Police who took it from there.”
The money was earmarked to purchase equipment, league fees, concession supplies, rental fees and insurance, according to Baessler.
According to Baessler, the board has put additional measures into place in order to ensure the incident does not happen in the future.
“The account was closed and a new account has been opened,” she said. “A new treasurer has been appointed and we have adopted several new policies in the handling of all league finances.”
The league board is made up of President Chad Purdin, Vice President Steven Tarter, Baessler, Treasurer Brianna Whitten, who was recently appointed, Activity Director Mary Carl and Director Gary Norton.
Baessler said she also wants people to realize the league is not associated with the Bracken County School District.
“We are not affiliated with Bracken County Schools, but are supported by them through facility use, as we are a feeder program for the middle school,” she said. “We play in the Greater North Central Kentucky Youth Football League, which is made up of eight counties and managed by a separate league board.”
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