$100,000 theft alleged from Ind. anti-crime group

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - The former volunteer treasurer of a South Bend group that pays rewards for crime tips has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 from the organization over several years.

Sixty-seven-year-old George Timlin pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday to a felony theft charge.

Authorities say Timlin wrote South Bend Area Crime Stoppers checks to himself for almost 20 years. South Bend police Lt. Cindy Kilgore coordinates the program and says the full amount of money missing can't be determined because it could only get bank records going back seven years.

The investigation began when the group's board members learned annual reports hadn't been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, Indiana secretary of state or state Department of Revenue.

Defense attorney James Masters says Timlin maintains his innocence.