APALACHICOLA — Franklin County’s director of parks and recreation has been arrested on grand theft charges for allegedly stealing cash from registration fees for the youth football program she oversees.
Catherine Nicole “Nikki” Millender, 37, of Carrabelle, was charged Tuesday with two counts of grand theft in the third degree, each of which can be punished by up to five years in prison, and a fine of up to $5,000. Theft of property valued between $300 and $20,000 qualifies as grand theft in the third degree.
The arrest came less than four days after concerned parents complained to the sheriff’s office regarding fees paid for their children’s youth football and cheerleading registrations.
Detective Brett Johnson on Friday reviewed copies within the county finance office of deposits made over the past decade for the youth football program. In July 2012, Millender was promoted to head the parks and rec department and is paid $37,000 annually.
Erin Griffith, the county’s assistant finance officer, said Millender deposited $1,250 in 2014 and turned in receipts for 25 kids who had all paid with checks. Griffith said Millender told her that she had asked parents not to pay this year with cash. In the 2013 season, Millender deposited $2,140 for 33 signups and turned in $160 in cash.
Johnson’s review of the 2014 rosters showed that at least 31 boys had taken part in football and another 30 girls in cheerleading. In addition, Lt. Kevin Newell and Lance Rochelle, the Tiny Mite coaches, told Johnson that they had paid cash for the registration fees.
On Monday, the detective spoke with parks and rec employee Susan Riley and former employee Joe Bright, both of whom said they turned in all the registration fees, including cash payments, to Millender. Riley said that she recalled more than $400 in cash was collected on the second day of signups. Coaches estimate that about 90 young people each year take part in the program.
A search of Millender’s office later that day recovered numerous receipt books and registration forms from 2014 and prior years. The receipt books showed at least 20 parents paid cash in 2014, authorities reported.
“There are numerous receipts torn from the book that are unaccounted for,” Johnson wrote in his probable cause affidavit.
At a sworn recorded interview with detectives Tuesday, Millender waived her rights and confessed to taking cash from registration fees from the 2013 and 2014 seasons, according to the affidavit.
“Millender doesn’t remember if she stole cash during the 2012 season,” Johnson wrote. “She admitted using the cash to pay the Tax Collector’s Office for back taxes on her home.”
After her arrest, Millender was suspended with pay Tuesday by Alan Pierce, the county’s director of administrative services, pending the outcome of the investigation.