DeadLine Paranormal

 

BY SARAH SCINTO, STAFF WRITER

Published: April 10, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Wolfe, Jim Fazzi IV and Ron Zukosky move a goal into place at Lions Memorial Park in Jenkins Township.

 

JENKINS TOWNSHIP — The check appeared small in size, but for William Wolfe, president of the Greater Pittston Stoners Youth Soccer Organization, it felt huge.

Wolfe and other members of the organization accepted a donation of $200 from paranormal research group Deadline Paranormal at Lions Memorial Field on Thursday night, kicking off the organization’s efforts to recoup tens of thousands of dollars allegedly stolen over the course of about a year.

“This will go right back into field maintenance,” Wolfe said of the donation. “Two-hundred is great — it will have an immediate impact on paint for the fields.”

Last month, authorities accused former Stoners’ president Edward Koch, 35, and his wife, Kathryn Koch, 36, of Exeter of siphoning funds from the Stoners’ treasury between November 2013 and December 2014.

Police said Edward Koch stole a total of $41,219, mostly from checks drawn from the group’s bank account on the pretense of purchasing soccer equipment. Kathyrn Koch, police said, took a total of $3,403 for personal use out of sign-up fees that were never deposited into the group’s bank account.

Wolfe said the $200 received from the Back Mountain-based Deadline Paranormal will help the Stoners start to “move forward.”

Jim Fazzi, co-founder of the paranormal research group, first heard about the Stoners’ financial plight through news reports and immediately wanted to help.

“My family is involved with soccer,” Fazzi said. “I thought it was a shame. They deserve a lot more than that.”

Fazzi said his group pooled money that they would have used for research equipment to make the donation.

“We got together $200 to start the ball rolling,” he said. “We hope to get it out there if anyone else wants to donate.”

Wolfe said the Stoners plan to keep the ball rolling by hosting a fundraiser at Susquehanna Brewing Company on May 1.

Losing more than $44,000 has proven tough for the Stoners. Wolfe said the organization had planned to make major improvements to the various fields about 700 players use throughout the spring and fall seasons, but those may be put on hold.

“It’s still difficult,” he said. “It’s going to take a while, but we’re getting there.”

The Kochs were arraigned on March 5 before Magisterial District Judge Alexandra Kokura Kravitz on felony charges of theft by unlawful taking and forgery, and a misdemeanor charge of violating the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Persons Act.

They were released on $25,000 unsecured bail and are scheduled to appear before the judge again at a preliminary hearing on April 22.

While the legal proceedings continue, Wolfe said the Stoners will keep working to recoup the lost funds and fight to keep youth soccer alive in Greater Pittston.

“The youth need to stay active,” he said. “We can’t let it just fade.”

Wolfe said registration for the Stoners’ fall season begins April 25, and anyone wishing to support the organization through a donation, can go to any Community Bank location and ask to contribute to the Stoner Soccer Strong fund.

 

sscinto@timesshamrock.com, @sscintoTT