Coach Accused of Stealing From 'Hockey Moms' Headed to Jail

A former youth coach who was accused of stealing money from the mothers of hockey players was ordered into custody yesterday to serve a 14-day jail sentence for not timely paying back his victims.

Steven Poliskey, 38, of Salem was found in contempt by Judge Michael Sullivan in Salem District Court.

Poliskey will serve his sentence at the Rockingham County House of Corrections.

Poliskey was convicted under a plea deal on June 13, 2012 on a single misdemeanor count of theft by misapplication of property. The conviction came after police had received complaints from five families claiming that Poliskey took money for a youth hockey tournament, then never registered the team for the tournament and failed to return the money.

Poliskey's conviction called for a 30-day jail sentence to be suspended for a year on conditions including that he pay almost $750 in restitution by March 12, 2013.

Poliskey paid $220 toward the debt in October 2012 and told a probation officer he would pay $100 a month until the debt was fully paid. He paid nothing further.

Prosecuting Jason B. Grosky of the Salem Police Department filed a motion in March asking that Poliskey be held in contempt and that his suspended sentence be imposed.

Poliskey's lawyer, Neil Reardon, told Sullivan that an acquaintance of Poliskey was prepared to pay the restitution in full yesterday. He asked that the court accept the payment and not incarcerate Poliskey.

Sullivan commended Reardon's advocacy, but explained that Poliskey's actions were "scurrilous" and warranted the jail sentence.

The full restitution balance was paid yesterday, and Poliskey was sentenced to a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years. He was committed to serve 14 days of the 30 days from the original theft conviction.

Poliskey was a youth hockey coach in Salem from 2011 and 2012. The league terminated him in January 2012 when the theft was realized.