October 27, 2015: Former Candidate For Delegate Pleads Guilty To Felony Theft From High School Athletic Boosters Association Fund

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                              October 27, 2015

FORMER CANDIDATE FOR DELEGATE PLEADS GUILTY TO FELONY THEFT FROM HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC BOOSTERS ASSOCIATION FUND

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt announced today that Steven D. Wyatt, a 2014 candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates and former president of the North County High School Athletic Boosters Association (NCHSABA), pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County to stealing $17,560.70. The Honorable Michele D. Jaklitsch imposed a sentence of five (5) years’ incarceration but suspended all but six months which is to be served on house arrest. Upon his release from house arrest, the defendant will be placed on three years of supervised probation. The defendant paid $3,300 in restitution and was ordered pay the remainder of the $17,560.70 during his period of probation. The court also ordered Mr. Wyatt to perform 200 hours of community service.

According to a statement of facts presented to the court, while serving as the president of the NCHSABA, Mr. Wyatt made numerous unauthorized transactions using the boosters association’s debit card for both personal use and his 2014 political campaign. In one instance, Mr. Wyatt used NCHSABA’s debit card to pay approximately $1,300 to Mission BBQ to cater a fundraiser for his campaign for the House of Delegates. In addition, Mr. Wyatt purchased a 9-month leadership program with Leadership Anne Arundel County, misusing $2,150 of NCHSABA funds. Between February 2014 and August 2014, Mr. Wyatt stole $17,560.70 belonging to the boosters association. A copy of the complete statement of facts submitted to the court is available at osp.maryland.gov

State Prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt stated: “It is simply an outrageous abuse of trust for the president of a high school athletic boosters association to steal money intended for the students and even more egregious to use those stolen funds to finance one’s campaign for public office.”

Mr. Davitt thanked Detective Renee Brown and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work on the investigation.