Brenda Renee Escarpe
GARDEN GROVE – During 2014-2015, the former president of Central Garden Grove Little League allegedly stole money from the group.
Now, seven counts of grand theft have been brought against 44-year-old Brenda Renee Escarpe. On June 8 she is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing in Westminster.
A report of suspected theft was first issued on July 31, 2015 against Escarpe. The league nearly had to be shut down because it no longer had the necessary funds to operate.
GGPD detectives and the Orange County District Attorney’s office investigated with the assistance of several warrants. They discovered that $47,089 had been embezzled from the Little League.
Authorities tried unsuccessfully to contact the suspect. Then on October 20, 2016 a $100,000 warrant was issued for Escarpe, who had fled the state and moved to Sahuarita, Arizona – a small community located south of Tuscon. She was booked into Pima County Jail, posted $50,000 bail and was released. She pleaded not guilty.
Thanks to the Garden Grove Kiwanis and others, the league stayed afloat. However, enrollment went down from 300 to 100 players. Needless to say, the league continues its attempt to bounce back from this regrettable action.
As Little League board member Rob Hovis noted, “The children of the league were hurt the most by this theft.”
