BOWLING GREEN — The Stroh Center’s former general manager pleaded not guilty to five felonies Friday in Wood County Common Pleas Court, and a prosecutor said more charges could be coming.
Benjamin Spence, 34, of Bowling Green pleaded not guilty to two third-degree felony counts of theft in office, and three third-degree felony counts of tampering with records.
He allegedly stole about $10,000 connected to high school athletic tournaments held at the basketball arena he managed for Bowling Green State University until his October resignation.
BGSU auditors discovered the problems last year during an overall review of the athletic department and sent their findings to the prosecutor’s office.
“... [T]here is an ongoing investigation. There may be future charges,” chief assistant prosecutor Thomas Matuszak told Judge Alan Mayberry during the arraignment.
The audit found that Mr. Spence used a personal bank account to manage the proceeds, including cash ticket sales, from Ohio High School Athletic Association games held at the Stroh Center. Mr. Spence managed tournaments for about seven years for the association.
The university audit found he made $10,228 worth of cash withdrawals and unsupported debit purchases at restaurants and other retailers plus wrote checks to himself from that account. BGSU suspended him in September.
Thomas Vogtsberger, Mr. Spence’s attorney, has repeatedly said his client denies any intentional wrongdoing, and that Mr. Spence was told to create and maintain a separate checking account to handle association finances. He contends Mr. Spence used the account to write checks to the association, vendors, and to BGSU for the association’s rental of the site for tournaments and that he had authorization to make expenditures.
Judge Mayberry agreed with the prosecution’s recommendation to release Mr. Spence on his own recognizance. As a condition of his release, he is to have no contact with representatives of BGSU or the athletic association.
The counts each carry penalties of up to three years in prison.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 22.
— Vanessa McCray
First Published February 13, 2016, 5:00 a.m.
