Couple Suing Pop Warner Over Theft Accusations

Couple suing Pop Warner over theft accusations
By BRIAN KELLY
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2009

A former Pop Warner football league official and his wife have filed a $6 million defamation suit against the organization, claiming they were wrongfully accused of stealing money.

James J. and Amanda Weldon, Evans Mills, filed a state Supreme Court complaint Thursday at the Jefferson County clerk's office against Pop Warner Little Scholars Inc., Langhorne, Pa., Pop Warner Junior League Football of Greater Watertown, Pulaski Pop Warner and several officers and directors of the local leagues.

The Weldons claim league officials suspended them indefinitely from all duties with the organization in September 2007 and then, through oral and written statements, led parents and others to believe the suspension was a result of theft of organizational funds.

Mr. Weldon, who could not be reached for comment Friday, claims in court documents that, among other things, the allegations caused him to lose his job as a caseworker with the Jefferson County Department of Social Services.

Mr. Weldon, a former U.S. Marine who was honorably discharged from the service in 1996 because of injuries suffered in the Gulf War, and Mrs. Weldon, a former medical technician in the Air Force who was honorably discharged in 1994, moved their family to Sandy Creek in 2002. A daughter joined Pulaski Pop Warner that year as a cheerleader and a son began playing football in 2004, according to court documents.

In January 2006, Mr. Weldon was elected president of Pulaski Pop Warner after "a heated race" with James Purdy, who was elected vice president. It is claimed in court documents that as a result of the election, Mr. Weldon and Mr. Purdy "were rivals, but they also share a history of animosity" because Mr. Weldon had earlier been named head coach of the Pulaski team, a position Mr. Purdy allegedly wanted.

As president of the Pulaski league, Mr. Weldon was responsible for supervising all of the business affairs for the league. Also in January 2006, he was elected secretary of the Watertown league, in charge of keeping meeting minutes and league records. Mrs. Weldon was elected the same month as treasurer of the Pulaski league, responsible for all of its funds. She also was the league's cheer coordinator.

In 2007, Mr. Weldon was elected vice president of the Watertown league, with responsibilities for selecting and setting game times and locations. In July 2007, he decided to run for president of the league and told President Darren Peebles, with whom he also had allegedly had disagreements, of his decision.

According to court documents, Mr. Peebles phoned Mr. Weldon on Sept. 20, 2007, and told him he was being suspended from both leagues for "knowingly and callously abusing the authorities" of his positions. Two days later, Mrs. Weldon was informed by a cheer coach that she was being suspended for the same reason.

Mr. Weldon claims that at a game at South Lewis on Sept. 20, 2007, Mr. Purdy approached him and said, loudly enough to be heard by parents and players, "Something is going on, you are being investigated for wrongdoing and you are suspended and have to leave the playing field immediately or the police will be called."

Mr. Purdy, Pulaski, referred questions to Pop Warner's attorney, Rosario M. Vignali, New York City, who could not be reached for comment.

The Weldons claim that several comments were made at league meetings that they stole money, including an alleged statement by a Pulaski board member that "Jim Weldon stole money from the concession stand." A letter informing Mr. Weldon of his suspension also was provided to parents.

The Weldons claim their suspension was subject to a mandatory internal investigation conducted by the national Pop Warner organization, but that never occurred. Their attorney twice contacted Jon Butler, executive director of the national Pop Warner organization, but allegedly he never responded. Josh Pruce, national director of scholastic and media relations for Pop Warner, declined comment on the matter, citing pending litigation.

The Weldons also contend they were never provided a hearing on their suspensions and that league boards refused to provide them with specific reasons why they were suspended.
"No proof or evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of plaintiffs Jim and Amanda Weldon was ever produced by any of the Defendants," it is maintained in the legal complaint.

A former treasurer of Pop Warner leagues in Watertown and Lowville has been charged with stealing about $34,000 from the organizations. Lisa A. Staie, Lowville, was charged by state police in early January with third-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing about $20,000 from the Lowville league and was charged with the same crime a few days later by Watertown police for allegedly taking money from the Watertown league.

It could not be determined Friday whether the thefts alleged to have been committed by Mrs. Staie had any correlation to allegations regarding missing money made against the Weldons.
Mr. Weldon claims in court documents that the allegations against him cost him a $36,000-a-year job with Jefferson County. He appeared before the county Legislature in January 2008 asking for an investigation into his firing, claiming he was not made aware of the allegations that caused his termination.

He claims in legal documents the lost job left him unable to afford the mortgage on his Sandy Creek home, forcing the family to move into an Evans Mills home they had bought with the idea of renovating to rent or resell. According to court documents, the needed home repairs were largely not completed at the time the family had to move.

In addition to libel, slander and defamation, the couple is seeking damages for, among other things, the emotional distress allegedly caused by the theft allegations, the loss of Mr. Weldon's job and the necessity of having to move into a home in need of extensive repair.

The Weldons are seeking $1 million for each of five causes of action, as well as an additional $1 million for punitive damages. They are represented by Syracuse attorney James L. Sonneborn, who was unavailable for comment Friday.

Story courtesy of the Watertown Daily Times

Even when Pop Warner officials aren't breaking bad, they are eating one another.