FRANKLIN COUNTY, FL. (WTXL) - The Apalachicola Dixie Youth League secretary is charged with 3rd degree Grand Theft.
Chala Parish turned herself in after a warrant was issued December 16th.
According to a report released by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, on December 3rd they were made aware of a possible theft regarding the Apalachicola Dixie Youth League baseball account. The league board discovered that their Secretary Chala Parish had been fraudulently using a Centennial Bank debit card issued to her for purchases related to the Dixie Youth League only.
Parish who was an authorized user had spent more than $3,000 from the account including payments to the City of Apalachicola for water and sewer, Duke Energy, and the Franklin County Health Department. Money was also spent at stores including, Ross, Dillard's, and Office Max. The purchases showed up on the account during the months of July through December when the account should be dormant due to baseball season ending.
The login and passwords to access the online banking account had been changed in August to prevent other board members from viewing the monthly bank statements. Parish has been making deposits back into the account beginning in October from the Kelley Funeral Home account writing the word "sponsor" on the checking slip. At one point in November when the Centennial bank account was overdrawn, Ms. Parish took $600 from another Dixie Youth League account at Cadence Bank and deposited into the League checking account at Centennial Bank.
Parish turned herself in to the Liberty County Jail where she was released on her own recognizance.
