Adams County woman pleads not guilty in $150,000 booster theft case

Amie Gardner pleaded not guilty to stealing $150,000 from a North Adams Athletic Boosters program, putting one of Adams County’s school sports support groups under court scrutiny. Court records showed the plea was entered July 2, and Local 12 identified Gardner as the former president of the North Adams Athletic Boosters.

The case reaches beyond one accused former officer. Booster clubs in small school communities often help cover costs that district budgets do not fully absorb, including equipment, travel, uniforms and other extras tied to games and team activities. A loss of that size could strain the money parents and volunteers count on for student athletes, especially if the funds were meant to support seasonal needs, team trips or event expenses.

Gardner’s resignation from the boosters in July placed the alleged theft in the middle of a long-running local athletics organization rather than a one-time fundraiser or outside business. That matters in Adams County because booster groups usually depend on trust, volunteer oversight and regular donation from families, fans and supporters who expect the money to stay close to the teams it serves.

The public record now shows the matter has moved into formal court proceedings, with the not-guilty plea entered and no judgment or sentence in place. That leaves open the key questions for parents, athletes and other school-affiliated groups: how the booster money was handled, what oversight existed over spending, and how a loss of this size went undetected long enough to become a criminal case.

For other school clubs across Adams County, the allegation is a warning about basic controls. Booster accounts that help pay for uniforms, bus trips, meals, gear and event costs depend on clear recordkeeping, approved spending and routine review by more than one set of eyes. When those safeguards fail, the impact reaches beyond the accused and into the stands, the locker room and the next fundraiser.