TROY – The former president of the Troy Soccer League recently pleaded guilty to felony theft charges but avoided jail time after agreeing to pay more than $30K in restitution and issue a formal apology.

Donna Vickrey, 50, entered the guilty plea to the Felony Stealing charges (over $25,000) in front of Circuit Judge James Beck.

Beck suspended sentencing, but placed Vickrey on five years of probation, 80 hours of community service and pay $30,029.53 in restitution to the Troy Youth Soccer Association.

According to Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood, Vickrey paid $10,000 of the restitution the day of sentencing and will be required to pay $375 a month until the full amount of the restitution is paid.

Wood said the restitution amount was established by a forensic audit by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and that if she fails to pay it, or other terms of her probation, Beck could sentence her on the original charge.

He added it’s typical for sentencing to be suspended if the crime is non-violent and the offender has no serious criminal history.

“We gave her credit for cooperating with us from the beginning and she has no criminal history. Anytime that’s the case, we are going to do the “suspended sentence” Wood said. “I think everybody is satisfied where we landed on this.”

In the apology letter, which Vickrey read before sentencing, she accepted responsibility for her actions.

“I want to extend my sincerest apologies to all those this has affected,” she said. “I am guilty of using club funds for my personal use. This is wrong and I regret everything I did and wish I had not hurt so many people.”

Promising to complete her punishment, complete with restitution payments, Vickrey said she has spent a lot of time thinking about her actions.

“I have reflected on this over the last couple years and have lived with guilt,” she said. “If I could go back and do things differently, I would.”

Vickrey also mentioned the many people she hurt, and especially her family.

“I have hurt a lot of people, including my family, especially my kids and hope with time, the negativity and hatred will get past everyone and we can all move forward.”

According to a Lincoln County Journal investigation in June of 2023, Vickrey and the club treasurer, Erica Finkbeiner, embezzled more than $100,000 over a five-year period from the now-defunct Troy Soccer League.

Vickrey used a debt card that belonged to the youth soccer organization for dozens of personal expenses, including a Netflix subscription, real estate association fees and trips to restaurants.

Finkbeiner wrote unauthorized checks to herself, for cash, or a food vendor, Uriah Hayes.

Finkbeiner still faces a similar felony charge. She was scheduled to appear before Judge Beck Wednesday afternoon.

In February, Hayes pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor stealing charge and was placed on one-year probation with $3,650 due in restitution.

After Vickrey and Finkbeiner were removed from the Troy Soccer League board in a contentious February 2023 meeting, the league formally disbanded partially due to Vickrey’s inability to renew their not-for-profit status.

The remaining board members and supporters formed a new league, the Troy Youth Soccer Association, which has grown in numbers and expanded to a spring season as well as a fall one.

The new board has also instituted several policies and procedures in an attempt to prevent this from occurring again in the future.