Scotch Plains Police Officer Admits Stealing from Athletic League

A Scotch Plains police officer has admitted to stealing thousands of dollars from the Scotch Plains Police Athletic League for personal use, authorities said.

James Denman, 50, former Scotch Plains PAL treasurer, pleaded guilty in New Jersey Supreme Court to a single charge of third-degree attempted misapplication of trust funds. Denman admitted to taking approximately $18,000 from the PAL little more than one year ago, according to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

An investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Unit revealed Denman took the funds sometime in December 2013, while off-duty from police work, the prosecutor’s office said. The funds were allegedly taken without permission from any Scotch Plains PAL executive or board member. The Scotch Plains PAL is a nonprofit organization with a focus on youth sports.

The prosecutor’s office reported Denman repaid the sum total of the previousl taken funds back into the PAL account by April 2014.

Denman is expected to forfeit his job, be permanently barred from holding public office in the state of New Jersey and be sentenced to a term of probation. Denman’s sentencing is scheduled to take place on April 24.