Rosemount Man Sentenced For Stealing From Lakeville Booster Club

ROSEMOUNT, MN — A Rosemount man was sentenced Wednesday to 60 days of Electric Home Monitoring and two years of probation in connection with the theft of over $20,000 from a Lakeville youth sports Booster Club from December 2018-July 2020, according to a news release from Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena.

At the time of the thefts, Eric Carlyle Heflin, 66, was the varsity softball coach at Lakeville South High School, officials said.

According to the news release, Heflin pled guilty to one count of theft by swindle June 17, 2020, and was ordered pay restitution of $23,508.84.

In September of 2020 the Lakeville Police Department received a report of possible misappropriation of funds by Heflin, who had been the softball coach for Lakeville South High School since October of 2018, officials said.

As head coach, Heflin was responsible for selecting and purchasing equipment, amongst other duties, officials said.

Officials said it was initially reported that Heflin submitted an invoice to the Booster Club requesting reimbursement for $2,365 for a project involving work being done to the softball field, but the company that he said was doing the work does not exist.

"Mr. Heflin’s theft of monies intended to support youth athletics was a betrayal of trust," Keena said. "The victims in this case include not just the Booster Club, but also the youth participants and all those who donated money and volunteer hours to this organization."

Heflin was prosecuted by Assistant County Attorney Cassandra Shepherd and sentenced by Judge Christopher Lehmann, according to the news release.