The Historic Hemet Theatre in the city’s downtown. (BOB PRATTE, STAFF)

The four original board members of the nonprofit formed to buy the Historic Hemet Theatre are not repaying the $30,500 they questionably paid themselves from donations.

The group’s new board is asking the California attorney general’s office to ban founding board members Sharon Deuber, her mother Laura Roach, Nick Reed and Jason Strain from serving on nonprofit boards in the state, said Patricia Yepremian, president of the nonprofit Valley View Foundation.

The nonprofit leases the theater to screen films and stage concerts with hopes of buying the building and transforming it into a performing arts center.

Sadly, the ongoing the problems with the four original board members add to the challenge of raising $450,000 to purchase Hemet’s old downtown movie house. The board is taking firm action.

“We are showing the community that there is a consequence and that this board is not on their side,” said Susan Carrier, Valley View’s treasurer. “We are ready to move on to the next chapter.”

Yepremian and Carrier said they thought Deuber and Roach would repay the nonprofit through the attorney general’s office, but the foundation has not received any of their money. Deuber and the attorney general’s media department did not respond to my phone inquiries.

Responding to what they characterized as “highly suggested” by the AG’s offfice, Strain and Reed both started repayments of $250 per month directly to Valley View Foundation. Strain paid back $1,000 of the $9,100 he was paid over the winter of 2012. Reed paid back $570 of the $8,400 he was paid. They stopped the payments and are considered in default.

Deuber was paid $8,400 and Roach received $4,600 in early 2012.

Both Reed and Strain said they believed Deuber when she told them paying board members was acceptable. They did not learn the payments were questionable until the attorney general’s office, which oversees nonprofit corporations, investigated. Strain said he learned during the investigation that not more than 49 percent of board members could have been paid, which would have meant one person.

Strain and Reed agree they owe the money and would like to pay it back, but say can’t afford the monthly payments. “It’s just financial hardship right now,” said Reed, noting he is trying to find more work and resume the payments. “I hope to make some dents in it.”

After stopping the payments, Strain continued to volunteer to operate his personal audio and visual equipment used to screen movies. He proposed having the foundation’s use of his equipment considered a repayment of the money. The board, said Carrier, did not agree to his plan, but does appreciate his volunteer work and the use of his equipment. She said the board plans to buy its own equipment.

The foundation was founded in late 2011 by Deuber. A fundraising campaign brought in more than $100,000, including substantial donations from widows Bettie Smith and Ellie Norton.

Questions arose about Deuber’s handling of the money. She refused to release details.

Strain said he and Reed clashed with Deuber when they questioned expenditures. He said they cooperated with an attorney general’s investigation.

In the summer of 2012, a meeting of donors was held, the original board of four was dissolved and a new, larger board was formed. Strain and Reed were elected to the new board, but no longer serve.

Bill and Elena Kern were big supporters in the early months of the foundation and continue with the effort. Bill Kern is on the present board.

“The reason we stuck with the project was we felt honor bound to restore the money that people donated because our name was involved,” Elena Kern said. “”We feel responsible to the people writing those checks.”

Contact the writer: bpratte@pe.com or 951-368-9078