Former Front Royal Little League treasurer charged with felony embezzlement

The former treasurer of Front Royal’s Little League organization was charged on Friday with one felony count of embezzlement, according to a media release from the Front Royal Police Department.

Robert A. Binnix, 42, of the 2000 block of Fairground Road in Warren County, was arrested on Thursday by Warren County Sheriff’s Deputies, according to the release, and was subsequently charged by the Front Royal Police Department with one felony count of embezzlement.

The release stated that newly-elected board of directors of the Front Royal Little League filed a complaint in February 2018 about bookkeeping discrepancies prior to its September 2017 election.

An investigation revealed that Binnix allegedly withdrew money for his personal use from the FRLL bank account without the consent of the board.   He has a pending court date of August 21, 2018, at 10 a.m. in Warren County General District Court.

While it has not been disclosed how much money was reportedly taken over the course of nearly three years that Binnix was the FRLL’s treasurer, Virginia law dictates that the amount would be in excess of $200.

A Virginia embezzlement charge (Va. Code §18.2-111) can be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending upon the value of the property embezzled or the number of the offender’s prior larceny or embezzlement convictions. Property valued at less than $200 is a misdemeanor and is treated as petty larceny under Va. Code §18.2-96. Property valued at $200 or more is treated and punished as grand larceny (Va. Code §18.2-95) which is a felony. A third offense embezzlement or larceny conviction is always a felony, regardless of the value of the property embezzled.

Attempts to reach board members for comment Friday evening were unsuccessful.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Det. DL Fogle at (540) 636-2208 or dfogle@frontroyalva.com.