Pittsfield man facing charges of theft from youth football team, family that lost home in fire

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The head coach of a youth football organization in Pike County was arrested last week and faces theft charges.

Officers from the Pittsfield Police Department arrested 25-year-old Matthew J. Robinson, 25, of Pittsfield on Tuesday. A press release from the police department said the arrest is the result of an investigation into suspicious purchases made from a checking account belonging to the Pittsfield Saukee Youth Football Club.

Robinson, the head football coach for the team, allegedly used the club’s checking account to make unauthorized purchases. The investigation revealed that more than $3,000 in personal purchases and checks were written to family members on the youth football account. Robinson allegedly endorsed and cashed the checks, then kept the cash.

The Pittsfield Police Department also alleges Robinson was employed by a local business that donated services to a family in rural Pittsfield who recently suffered a house fire. Robinson is accused of defrauding the family after he allegedly collected money from them for the services provided when the business had donated them to the family.

Robinson was arrested for one count of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft in connection to the two incidents. He was booked into the Pike County Jail. He since has posted $1,500 bond. He is required to avoid any contact with the football club, and he must submit to weekly drug testing.

A preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 27 in Pike County Circuit Court.