Kayleigh Skinner

kayleigh.skinner@commercialappeal.com

Germantown police arrested a man last month for allegedly stealing more than $95,000 from a local Boy Scouts troop over the course of five years.

According to an affidavit dated Nov. 30, David Cline was charged with theft of property: $60,000 or more after officials with Boy Scouts Troop 368 suspected he was stealing from the troop's bank account.

David Cline was treasurer of Boy Scouts Troop 368 and was the only person with access to the bank account, checks and bank card associated with the account, the affidavit said. Cline was first suspected of theft in June 2016 when a check for $13,315 for a group trip could not be cashed because the bank account had only $7,612.92 at the time, the affidavit said. An assistant troop leader said there should have been enough in the account, and Cline "told conflicting stories on why there was not enough money in the account," the affidavit said. Cline told Boy Scouts of America, Chickasaw Council officials that not all members paid their dues and that was why there was not enough money, and told Troop 368 Scout Leaders the incident was caused by an accounting error, the affidavit said.

A Germantown Police Department investigation revealed 314 withdrawals from the troop's account that did not match with Troop 368's activities between July 7, 2011, to January 29, 2016, the affidavit said. Investigators found Cline stole $95,309.24 from the Boy Scouts troop by writing checks to himself, making ATM withdrawals, credit and debit purchases and other methods, the affidavit said.

Cline signed a confession on July 25, 2016, stating he stole from Troop 368's bank account to help pay for his bankruptcy fees in June 2014. He admitted to stealing about $10,000 for personal items, utilities, rent and more, the affidavit said.