A former official with a Kingston based youth basketball group has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the group.
Christopher Walsh, 36, of Dallas, surrendered to Kingston police today to face charges of theft and criminal use of a communication facility.
In all, police say Walsh stole $6,012.95 from the Luzerne County Lightning AAU basketball team.
Walsh, a middle school teacher at Hazleton Area, was a founder of the group and served as its chief financial officer.
Walsh was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Paul Roberts and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
"Chris Walsh's job was to pay the bills for organization, but instead he decided to pay himself," said Attorney Peter Moses, a coach with the league who plans to represent the group in a civil lawsuit.