A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning regarding felony grand theft charges against Christie Stone, the former president of the Portneuf Valley Soccer Club.
The case centers on allegations that Stone misused nearly $220,000 from club funds for personal purchases. An internal audit by the soccer club’s board triggered the investigation after officials discovered transactions linked to Stone’s personal credit card with Idaho Central Credit Union.
Stone has denied wrongdoing, stating she was unaware that the organization’s account had been connected to her personal financial instrument. She has not been convicted of any crime.
The hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, before Judge Cousins. The proceeding was originally slated for July 21 but was postponed to late September.
A preliminary hearing serves to determine whether sufficient probable cause exists for the case to move forward to trial; it is not a determination of guilt or innocence.
During Stone’s initial court appearance, her defense attorney waived the reading of the criminal complaint. At that time, Judge Eric Hunn outlined the potential penalties if convicted. Under Idaho law, felony grand theft carries a sentence ranging from one to 14 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
The Portneuf Valley Soccer Club board questioned Stone regarding the financial discrepancies prior to the filing of charges. The club’s leadership sought to clarify how personal expenses were charged to organizational accounts.