By Brendan Hoover
Managing Editor
A Mustang Optimist Club coach suspected of embezzling money during a T-ball fundraiser was arrested in Oklahoma City this week.
Mustang Police Capt. Willard James said his officers served a Canadian County arrest warrant for the man, who was wanted for allegedely stealing $750 from the parents of the team he coached.
An arrest warrant was issued in Canadian County District Court on Jan. 6 for Robert Celles Fulmer, 33, of Mustang, in connection with four counts of misdemeanor embezzlement.
According to court records, Fulmer is accused of stealing $750 from four victims. The money had been entrusted to him for the purpose of purchasing candles as part of a fundraising activity for a T-ball team.
According to an affidavit given by Mustang Police Lt. Dennis Craig, one of the victims complained to police on Dec. 10 on behalf of himself and three additional victims.
The fundraiser consisted of candle sales where orders were placed with Fulmer and monies were give to him for the purchase of the candles. After a lengthy period of time had passed, the victims began calling as to inquire of the status of the order, Craig said.
“Calls were made to the candle company, Glow Scented Candles, and after looking into the matter it was discovered that no order was placed and no monies were received by the candle company,” Craig said.
Police spoke with Fulmer’s wife, Jill Fulmer, who said she recalled the fundraiser and had written a check for $721.51 to the candle sales representative. She said she gave the check to her husband, who kept the check, Craig said.
Craig asked Fulmer’s wife what her husband did with the money, and she said he kept the money and to her knowledge still had the check.
Craig said he also spoke with the Glow Scented Candles sales representative, who said Fulmer placed no order for candles.
Craig said he later interviewed Fulmer about the incident, who admitted to taking the fundraising monies and converting it for his personal gain.
“The defendant explained that he had just lost his job and needed money to support his family,” Craig said.
Fulmer said he was saving money that he planned on using to replace the money taken from the victims, Craig said.
Attempts to reach Fulmer at his Wellington Gardens home were unsuccessful.
If convicted, Fulmer faces one year in jail and a fine not to exceed $1,000 on each count.
Two of the victims spoke to the Mustang Times Monday on the condition of anonymity because they did not want further hardship on their children who play baseball in the Mustang Optimist Club.
One parent said he had pulled his son from Fulmer’s team, the Predators, a 5-6 year-old pitching machine team that will play in the Mustang Optimist Club’s spring league.
The parent said he sold candles to neighbors and gave the money to Fulmer but never received any candles. After the season was over, he refunded the money out of his own pocket, the parent said.
Fulmer never returned any money owed to the parents, but he eventually did order the candles and attempted to deliver them, the parent said.
The parent said he contacted Mustang Optimist Club President Ray Miers, who told him Fulmer would be allowed to coach this spring but “not handle any money.”
Phone calls to the Mustang Optimist Club were not returned as of press time.
Mustang Parks and Recreation Director Justin Battles said that all youth sports leagues that play at city facilities are required to perform background checks on coaches.
“We’re looking into it at this time,” Battles said of Fulmer’s case.
According to court records, Fulmer is also wanted on a 2009 warrant for writing a bogus check.