Hearing for former AYSO commissioner postponed

Lolita Harper

A pretrial hearing for a former AYSO commissioner accused of

embezzling from the nonprofit group was postponed Friday, because the

amount of money that he is accused of stealing is still up for

debate, a judge decided.

Anthony Leon Anish, the former American Youth Soccer Organization

regional commissioner who pleaded not guilty in October to charges of

embezzling $108,000, was in court Friday morning to set a trial date.

He carried with him a packet of photocopies of canceled checks and

other documents.

Prosecutor Steve Bickel said he needed more time to establish an

exact amount that Anish allegedly stole.

“Documents claimed losses that we thought were theft that

weren’t,” Bickel told Superior Court Judge Susanne S. Shaw.

The judge agreed to postpone the pretrial hearing to April 22. The

purpose of a pretrial hearing is to set a trial date.

After their brief appearance in court, Bickel, Anish and defense

attorney Gerald Werksman met in the hall to discuss issues further.

The men discussed matters of an AYSO treasurer, records of

transactions and communication between the organization’s executives.

“We need to have all these documents to go through,” Bickel said.

“Once I go through everything and hear your side of the story, it

will be more clear.”

Anish argued his innocence in the hall and insisted that there

“were always invoices for everything.”

Bickel and Anish continued to talk after Werksman had excused

himself from the conversation, often breaking out into loud laughter.

“See this?” Werksman said. “These guys are in love with each

other.”

Werksman said the case was still in the process of being properly

investigated, which he claims should have happened before charges

were filed. But Bickel has been cooperative and understanding,

Werksman said.

“What we are doing is supplying the prosecution with explanations

for each and every check and expense that Mr. Anish incurred and paid

for,” Werksman said.

It comes down to two issues, Werksman said: whether there is

actually money that cannot be accounted for; and if so, whether Anish

is guilty of a crime, or simple negligence.

In a volunteer activity that requires 30 to 40 hours of work per

week, it is hard to find time or energy for maliciousness, Werksman

said.

“This guy loves soccer; it’s his whole life,” he said of Anish.

“He wasn’t in this to steal money from anyone.”

Anish is also a defendant in a civil suit filed against him by

AYSO.