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The former recreation director for Nelsonville has been indicted on theft charges related to youth sports

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – The former recreation director for Nelsonville is accused of taking money that was supposed to go to youth sports programs.

Photo of town square in Nelsonville Ohio. The town's fountain in on the left hand side of the image with buildings on the right.
The town square in Nelsonville [WOUB]
An Athens County Grand Jury on Monday indicted David “Rudy” Schultz for two felony counts of theft, according to a release from the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office. Schultz is accused of stealing what was intended to support Nelsonville youth baseball and softball leagues during the 2022 season while employed as the city’s recreation director and working with Batting for Kids.

“Sadly, this is another example of theft from youth activities in our area,” Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said in a statement. “The constant vulnerability of funds designed to better our children’s experience is disappointing. I urge organizations and local governments to set up safeguards and checks and balances to reduce this in the future.”

Schultz allegedly failed to deposit money collected for some registration fees, taking money out of an account for improper use, and failed to deposit concession sales.

He is further accused of taking more than $2,500 from the Batting for Kids fundraising organization after his employment with Nelsonville.

Nelsonville City Auditor Taylor Sappington is reported to have provided information to Blackburn’s office regarding improprieties with a donation to Batting for Kids from September 2022, which helped propel the investigation to Monday’s result.

Schultz is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in the Athens County Court of Common Pleas in front of Judge Patrick Lang.