La Center woman arraigned in embezzlement case

A woman who allegedly embezzled thousands of dollars from the La Center Little League was arraigned Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court.

Liska A. Stokes, the organization’s former treasurer, entered not-guilty pleas to first-degree theft, tampering with physical evidence and money laundering. She appeared while out of custody, and Judge Gregory Gonzales granted her release on her own recognizance.

Stokes, 39, of La Center served as the league’s treasurer from 2011 to February 2015. According to a probable cause affidavit, she allegedly stole an amount between $9,492 and $23,028 from the organization, which was determined by accountant Tiffany Couch of Acuity Forensics.

Stokes’ trial is scheduled for June 20.

She also is accused of destroying physical evidence by erasing the financial information stored in QuickBooks on the league’s laptop. Stokes entered false financial information into the program before returning the laptop upon her resignation, the affidavit said.

According to court records, she allegedly obtained a $5,000 loan from a family friend through iQ Credit Union and then procured a cashier’s check from Unitus Community Credit Union to repay a portion of the stolen money to the league.

According to a news release from the league, most of the missing money was concession stand sales income that was never deposited in the league’s bank account.

During her arraignment, Stokes’ attorney, Mark Muenster, said his client has no prior criminal history.

Stokes is not to have contact with any of the Little League’s board members.