Crime & Safety

Former Sycamore Stingrays President Charged With Embezzlement

Danville resident Mark Eugene Thornton, 51, pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement on Friday.

A former Danville swim team president was charged Friday with embezzlement and has been accused of taking more than $225,000 in team funds for personal use, the Contra Costa Times reports.

After a three year investigation, Mark Eugene Thornton, 51, pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement. Thornton was the board president of the Sycamore Stingrays Swim Team, a 230-member Danville swim club, from November 2006 until he termed out in late 2009.

Also on Friday, the Stingrays filed a civil suit against Thornton, that alleges a breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and conversion.

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Thornton's attorney, Dirk Manoukian, says his client is innocent and always acted in the best interest of the swim club.

The Stingrays attorney in the civil suit, Debra Bogaards, told the Times:

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For the membership, it's very important to them to see Mr. Thornton brought to justice. Many of the families felt a huge sense of betrayal of their trust...Not only was Mr. Thornton the president of the swim club, some of his children were on the team, as a person, he was well-liked, and he was put in a position with a lot of authority over swim club funds.

Thornton was released on his own recognizance and returns to court March 15 for the setting of the date for a preliminary hearing.


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