A former police officer and treasurer of a youth baseball league has pleaded no contest to stealing more than $12,000 from the league.
Forty-four-year-old John Rapp of Concord was charged with making more than $5,000 worth of unauthorized purchases with the Chichester Baseball League's debit card at a casino, convenience stores and elsewhere. He was also accused of stealing $7,000 in funds that were supposed to be used to pay umpires.
The Delaware County Daily Times says Rapp entered his plea in Delaware County Court and was sentenced on Tuesday. His sentence includes 90 days of electronic home monitoring, three years of probation, and 80 hours of community service. He has already started making restitution.
Rapp turned himself in last February to face charges including theft and receiving stolen property when he turns himself in, according to court records.
According to the affidavit, the Garnet Valley father of three allegedly used a league debit card 25 times -- at ATMs at local Wawas, banks, a casino and even the Renaissance Fair -- taking out a total of $5,387.73, He also allegedly wrote checks to cash with money intended to be sued for umpire fees and pocketed about another $7,000 that way.
According to the affidavit, Rapp admitted to league officials that he repaid the $5,387.73 because he used the money for his own personal use, not league activities.
In court and off camera, Rapp told NBC10's Monique Braxton that he has been working in waste water management since he quit his part-time position as a Bethel police officer. Before that he served as an Aston Police officer for 19 years before he "just quit."
Rapp quit his job as a Bethel Township police officer because of the investigation, authorities told NBC10's Nefertiti Jaquez.
