LONGVIEW (KYTX) -- A former youth baseball league president admits to stealing money from the Gladewater Youth Baseball Association. CBS 19's Abby Broyles was in court today when Brad Webb pleaded guilty. She's live at the Gregg County Courthouse tonight.
Prosecutors said Brad Webb stole about $6,000 from the Gladewater Youth Baseball Association last year. That's when he was the president of that league. Today he pleaded guilty, asking for a lesser punishment, but late this afternoon Judge Alfonso Charles found him guilty of felony theft.
Bradford Coy Webb entered his guilty plea in the 124th District Court Monday afternoon. Webb waived his right to a trial in May, after a grand jury indicted him for felony theft.
Webb admits to stealing money from the Gladewater Youth Baseball Association last year, using the league's credit card for his own personal use.
About $6,000 in credit card charges left the league with nothing last fall.
In court Monday, Justin smith took the witness stand for the prosecution. He's the president now of the Gladewater/Union Grove Baseball Association. That's a joint-league formed this year meant to help more than 250 kids play baseball this season after the money was gone, since the other group couldn't function without funding.
"It was very hard to hear when it all went down, very hard to understand and frustrating," Smith said.
Facing a state jail felony, Webb took the stand Monday, telling the court he was sorry and was in a financial bind at time. He has since paid restitution.
"This should've never happened, I used poor judgment," Webb said.
Webb asked the court to keep this felony off his record, considering his level of cooperation.
But late Monday afternoon, judge Alfonso Charles denied that request.
Judge Charles sentenced Webb to four years probation, if he gets revoked, he could serve two year in a state jail.
We spoke with the president of the Gladewater and Union Grove combined league this afternoon. He said the decision to play together has been the silver lining in all of this - they plan to keep the league combined again next season.
Judge Charles also sentenced Webb to community service and to pay a $1,000 fine.
