Treasurer charged with embezzling from Horsham youth soccer league

NORRISTOWN An Ambler man was charged with embezzling $64,292 from the Horsham youth soccer organization that he served as treasurer, authorities said Wednesday.

Daniel Heinze, 50, was charged with felony theft, receiving stolen property, forgery, and other charges in connection with money that went missing from the Horsham Soccer Association, a group that provides "intramural and travel soccer teams" to youngsters, according to a news release from Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Horsham Police Chief William J. Daly.

Heinze was the association's treasurer between November 2009 and November 2013 when he allegedly wrote 23 checks from the group's account and deposited them into his own bank accounts.

To hide the thefts, police said, he doctored records and forged officials' signatures. The missing money was discovered at the end of last year during a routine financial review.

In a message on the group's website, president Christopher Hurrell told members that the club was in no financial danger of closing, and steps had been taken to prevent a repeat of such problems.

Heinze was arraigned Wednesday in District Court in Horsham, which set bail at $100,000. He was released after signing a bail bond.

- Carolyn Davis