Former Lakeville softball coach sentenced after he stole over $20K from booster club

A former Lakeville South High School softball coach has been sentenced to 60 days of electronic home monitoring and two years of probation after he stole more than $20,000 from a youth booster club from December 2018 through July 2020.

According to the sentencing, Eric Carlyle Heflin, 66, from Rosemount, was the varsity softball coach at the high school at the time of the thefts. He was originally charged in November 2020 and entered a guilty plea on June 17 to one count of theft by swindle. Heflin was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $23,508.84. The other counts were dismissed, according to Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena.

In September 2020, the Lakeville Police Department was made aware of possible misappropriation of funds by a high school varsity softball coach identified as Heflin, who had been the softball coach at the school since October 2018. In his role as head coach, Heflin was responsible for the selection and purchase of equipment, among other duties.

According to the criminal complaint, it was initially reported that he submitted an invoice to the booster club requesting reimbursement in the amount of $2,365 for a project involving field work to the softball field. The invoice indicated the service was provided by ABC Concrete and Laser Grading located in Farmington. However, through an investigation, it was determined that the company does not exist. It appeared to be a falsified invoice.

Police later found more falsified invoices made by Heflin. Click here to see a detailed list.