Former Crystal Lake South AD, football coach indicted

A former Crystal Lake South High School athletic director and varsity football coach was arrested Thursday on 10 counts of theft and three counts of computer fraud alleging he siphoned thousands of dollars from the school's athletics funds.

James Stuglis, 41, of the 21000 block of Brown Drive in Frankfort, surrendered to police Thursday and was released after posting 10 percent of $40,000 bail, according to a news release from the Crystal Lake Police Department.

A six-month investigation by Crystal Lake Police, the Illinois State Police and the McHenry County State's Attorney in conjunction with Crystal Lake High School District 155, found that Stuglis had misappropriated thousands of dollars over several years from a vending machine, as well as a fundraising program, authorities said. The funds were never accounted for or reported to District 155 officials, the release said.

In addition, authorities said, Stuglis withheld money from various playoff athletic games by reporting lower attendance numbers than were present to the Illinois High School Association via electronic filing. Police said Stuglis then exercised unauthorized control over the proceeds from ticket sales that were erroneously reported to the IHSA.

Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Gene Lowery said $9,000 in cash was recovered from Stuglis' office, but he said up to $27,000 could be missing.

The former coach resigned in June.

Stuglis' is scheduled to appear in McHenry County Court at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, in Woodstock.