Former Hermitage YMCA CEO headed for trial in theft case
Talks aimed at settling an embezzlement investigation into the former CEO of the Hermitage YMCA have fallen through and the case is going to trial.
A district magistrate this week sent four charges filed against 41-year-old Robert States to Mercer County Common Pleas Court for prosecution.
States, accused of stealing money from the YMCA through credit cards, checks, and loans, faces three counts of theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. All four charges are felonies.
Seven other charges against States have been withdrawn.
The District Attorney had been in discussions with States’ lawyer to make restitution hoping to avoid a trial.
A police search in July of 2022 turned up the first of the two credit cards, a laptop used for YMCA business matters, and the States' cell phone, according to a criminal complaint.
Police found later that the second credit card had been destroyed by YMCA personnel.
According to police, credit cards were used to buy items like food, diapers, eyewear, and other household items from Walmart. Police say the cards were also used to buy gift cards, meals at local restaurants, auto repairs, DoorDash meals, and more.
Additionally, police say the State would charge large amounts of cash on the two cards and deposit it directly into the YMCA bank account when funds were depleted, and payroll had to be met.
According to the criminal complaint, further investigation revealed that the State wrote fraudulent checks to the Hermitage Little League Association using YMCA funds to reimburse revenue that he had stolen.
Twenty-seven of these checks were written over two years. Police say the total amount of money stolen from the YMCA and Little League accumulated nearly $500,000.
States is scheduled to appear before Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Neil McEwen on June 25 for arraignment. He remains free on $100,000 bond.