Not guilty plea in Healdsburg youth soccer theft case

Former Healdsburg Youth Soccer League President Kyle Joseph Hoffman pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he embezzled up to $58,000 in league money over a two-year period.

Hoffman pleaded guilty to six counts of felony theft in a brief hearing before Sonoma County Superior Court Presiding Judge Ken Gnoss.

Gnoss set a next court hearing for May 9.  At that time,  the judge said he would either set a date for a preliminary hearing or would hear if there were any arrangements or plea deals made in the case between Hoffman and Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch's office.

"We have between now and then to see if we want to resolve the case or set it for a preliminary hearing," said Hoffman's attorney George Arack of Santa Rosa.

Arack declined to say anything further on the case or on his client's status.

Hoffman, 37, who was released on his own recognizance, declined all comment and shunned a photograper's attempt to take his photo. He was dressed in a suit and tie and was tight-lipped and reserved.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Staebell, who was in charge of the case Monday, was not immediately available for comment.

Hoffman's arrest was the result of a

Police allege in court documents that Hoffman wrote 71 checks out of league funds ranging from $60 to $3,180 over the time period from Jan. 1, 200 to June 24, 2010.