Video: Local Youth Football League Moving Forward After Losing Everything

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Hamilton, Miss. (WCBI) — The Hamilton Peewee Football League is looking for answers after losing almost everything in the program.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department has charged the program’s former president Matthew Householder with embezzlement and is accused of taking $5,000 to $25,000.

Christy Melton, the board’s secretary, also said the equipment has been taken and the storage facility that held the gear has been repossessed.

She also said that the program is without start-up money, and Hamilton was to play host for the league’s “Super Bowl”, but had to give it up because they could not afford the cost. The game is used as a major fundraiser for a program that is ran entirely by volunteers.

The Hamilton Peewee football league began in 1999, and this past year gave more than 100 children the chance to play football and cheer lead.

Melton and her husband, Donny, who is a coach, have two sons who play football and one daughter who is a cheerleader in the league. Melton has also personally paid for the light and water bill for their football field, just to keep the lights from being shut down.

The program’s board went the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department around early November when they became suspicious about the program’s funds.

Captain of Criminal Investigations Brandon Davis said the department launched an investigation and found receipts and bank statements that were “being used not for the kids, but for a personal use….”

Davis also said they found items “that were supposed to be paid for…” but wasn’t as well as suspicious bank accounts. Davis said the department has retained a certified accounts to help with the case.

Melton also thanked the volunteers and companies that donated medals for the players, equipment, and food for the program’s season ending party.

Her husband said he is optimistic the program will stay, and the program will elect an entirely new board. He also said the program is a great way for children, boys and girls, to play and learn the fundamentals of football, and build life-long relationships.

“I would rather have a kid in some sort of sports organization or something like that than be out on the streets and getting into who knows what…”, Donny Melton said.

Davis said the investigation is still ongoing and will introduce the case to the grand jury in March.