Home monitoring, probation for former Lakeville softball coach accused of stealing booster funds

A high school softball coach accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a booster club was sentenced this week.

Eric Carlyle Heflin, 66, received 60 days of electronic home monitoring and two years of probation, the Dakota County Attorney's Office announced Wednesday. He'll also pay restitution in the amount of $23,508.84.

He'd pleaded guilty in June to one count of felony theft by swindle — the other two theft by swindle charges against him were dismissed, according to court records.

Heflin, of Rosemont, was originally charged in November of 2020, with prosecutors saying he stole more than $15,000 from the booster club by filing fraudulent reimbursement requests. 

The incidents took place from December 2018 through July 2020, while Heflin was the coach of Lake South High School's varsity softball team. His role gave him the responsibility of purchasing things such as equipment.

The complaint said he submitted reimbursement requests for items including uniforms, helmets and softballs, field armor panels, cage divider screens and more. But those items were either never purchased, or cost substantially less than Heflin claimed, according to the charges. 

Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena, in a statement, called it a "betrayal of trust," saying his victims "include not just the Booster Club, but also the youth participants and all those who donated money and volunteer hours to this organization.”