Former Crystal Lake Baseball league president pleads guilty to reduced theft charge

A former Crystal Lake Baseball league president accused of stealing $25,000 from the youth league pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor theft charge.

Joey Maurer, 46, accepted an offer Thursday from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and pleaded guilty to an amended theft charge. In exchange for Maurer’s plea and a letter of apology, prosecutors reduced an original felony count of theft to a misdemeanor. The state’s attorney’s office also dismissed two remaining counts of theft of more than $10,000.

McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt sentenced Maurer to two years of probation and 100 hours of public service. Maurer also must pay $20,000 in restitution to Crystal Lake Baseball. None of his public service hours can be performed for youth sports, according to Thursday’s sentencing order.

Maurer was charged in 2019, after police say he used the league’s debit cards to make unauthorized withdrawals and purchases between November 2014 and September 2016, court records show.

In an apology letter addressed to the Crystal Lake Baseball executive board, Maurer asked for forgiveness and said he never intended to cause any harm.

“I want to send my deepest apologies for the time it must have taken out of your own personal lives to deal with this matter,” Maurer wrote. “My heart and soul was put into Crystal Lake Baseball and I did it wrong. My ability to mismanage the league finances brought us here.”

Maurer had been involved with Crystal Lake Baseball for at least a decade by the time he resigned for unrelated reasons in 2016, he previously told the Northwest Herald.

Crystal Lake Baseball is a nonprofit organization led entirely by volunteers, according to its website. The organization is funded through player membership fees, fundraising, corporate sponsorships and concession sales.

“I put everything into making Crystal Lake Baseball what it is today,” Maurer wrote in his apology letter. “I grew up playing on these same fields. It was a place that brought me so much joy. Due to my lack of responsibility in managing the funds I have brought on a lot of turmoil for all involved.”

Maurer will be allowed to “continue his coaching obligations” with the Huntley Red Raiders and Thunder Travel League in Lake in the Hills, according to the judge’s order.

He is, however, barred from having contact with Crystal Lake Baseball or the league’s fields. Maurer also may not volunteer or accept future coaching jobs in youth sports without permission from a judge and cannot accept a finance or board position with any youth league, according to the sentencing order.

“Since removing myself in 2016 I have not and will not ever participate on a board or Crystal Lake Baseball,” Maurer wrote in his letter. “I ask that those involved forgive me and understand I never intended any harm in my wrongdoing.”