Little League Embezzlement Case

Under Texas law, a volunteer treasurer who spends an organization's money on themselves is not just breaking a promise — they can be charged with a felony for both theft and misapplying property held in trust. That is the Texas lens on a case out of California, where prosecutors say a former Little League treasurer took roughly $96,000 from the youth baseball organization she was supposed to protect.

What Happened in the Little League Case?

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office says Reshae Marie Cuevas, 39, a former treasurer of the Imperial Beach Little League, was arrested on August 12, 2026, after an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of about $96,000 from the organization. Investigators allege that between January 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026, Cuevas made multiple unauthorized transactions using her assigned Little League debit card. She was charged with eight counts of grand theft and eight counts of embezzlement, and was scheduled to be arraigned on August 19 at the San Diego Central Courthouse, according to authorities. Because this is a California case, nothing here predicts its outcome — but it is a useful window into how the same conduct would be charged in a Frisco or Dallas-Fort Worth courtroom.

Is Embezzlement Its Own Crime in Texas?

Texas does not have a separate crime called “embezzlement.” Instead, taking money you were entrusted with is prosecuted under the general theft statute, Penal Code Section 31.03, which defines theft as unlawfully appropriating property with intent to deprive the owner of it. When someone lawfully receives money in a role of trust — like a treasurer with signing authority — and then converts it to personal use, that is still theft under Texas law. The key point is that having permission to handle the funds is not a defense; the crime is using them for an unauthorized purpose.

How Does Texas Punish Theft From an Organization?

In Texas, theft is graded by the dollar amount involved. Theft of $2,500 to less than $30,000 is a state-jail felony, $30,000 to less than $150,000 is a third-degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years, and the ladder continues up from there. A loss of roughly $96,000 would fall in the third-degree-felony range. Critically, Penal Code Section 31.09 allows prosecutors to aggregate amounts stolen “pursuant to one scheme or continuing course of conduct,” so a series of smaller debit-card charges can be combined into a single higher-grade felony rather than treated as many small thefts.

What Is Misapplication of Fiduciary Property in Texas?

A treasurer case can also be charged under Penal Code Section 32.45, misapplication of fiduciary property. That statute applies when a fiduciary — someone who holds or manages property for the benefit of another, including an officer of a nonprofit — intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly deals with that property in a way that involves substantial risk of loss to the beneficiary. Like theft, it is graded by the value involved, reaching third-degree-felony territory in the $30,000 to $150,000 range and rising for larger sums. Prosecutors often charge both theft and misapplication because the fiduciary relationship is exactly what makes the alleged conduct a breach of a special legal duty.

What Defenses Apply to a Texas Embezzlement Case?

Every case turns on its own facts, but common defense issues in Texas theft-by-fiduciary cases center on intent and authorization. Because theft requires intent to deprive the owner, the defense often examines whether disputed transactions were actually authorized reimbursements, approved expenses, or bookkeeping errors rather than intentional conversion. The reliability of the financial records, who else had access to the account, whether the accused ever concealed the transactions, and how the loss figure was calculated are all frequently contested. Restitution and the organization's own record-keeping practices can also matter to how a case resolves.

How L&L Law Group Can Help

Theft and misapplication-of-fiduciary-property charges in Texas are felonies that can carry prison time and a permanent record, and the difference between a misunderstanding and a criminal conviction often comes down to intent, authorization, and how the numbers were reconstructed. At L & L Law Group, PLLC, we defend Frisco and Dallas-Fort Worth clients — including volunteers, officers, and employees — against theft, embezzlement, and fiduciary-property charges, scrutinizing the financial evidence, challenging the loss calculation and intent proof, and working toward the leading available resolution. If you or a loved one is facing a theft or fiduciary charge in Texas, contact us for a confidential consultation.

Source: Reporting via Golden Gate Media / NewsBreak citing the San Diego County Sheriff's Office (August 2026). This article is legal commentary by L & L Law Group, PLLC on a news story and is not a republication of the original reporting.

By Reggie London and Njeri London. This article is attorney advertising and general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; outcomes depend on specific facts. If you face criminal charges in Texas, consult a licensed Texas criminal-defense attorney.