he former treasurer of a youth sports league in South King County pleaded not guilty today to charges related to the theft of nearly $19,000 from the league.

Colleen Adell Wiley is accused of secretly stealing the money from the Puget Sound Junior Football League, Federal Way Junior Football Association and Federal Way American Little League.

Wiley now faces four first degree theft charges and six second degree theft charges.

"It's frustrating, 'cause we work so hard. It's for the kids," said Brenda Johnson, a parent and member of the board of directors for the Federal Way Hawks Junior Football League. "It's just part of their life, and it's our life."

Investigators said Wiley took the money to keep her home out of foreclosure.

Kim Rendish, an attorney for the Hawks, says the league first noticed the thefts when a check was discovered in early 2009 that had been written in payment of Wiley's mortgage.

"At least one of the checks was written on a mortgage payment. That's what got everybody's eyes open at that point," Rendish said.

She said the three leagues started looking and found more money missing.

"It was devastating for everyone," she said. "(That) is a lot of dimes and nickels and hot dogs and hamburgers sold. We run our budget on a shoestring, and it is an all-volunteer effort."

"That type of money could have seriously ended the Hawks program. That was a huge blow," she added.

For now, kids have helmets and pants to play in, but won't be able to afford new team jerseys as a result of the theft, said members of the Hawks board of directors.

Court documents filed in the case say the total loss for the three leagues was $33,967.20. The money was paid out in checks signed by Wiley but not authorized by the leagues, according to court files.

Investigators have been able to account for about $19,000 of the missing funds, said Dan Donohoe, of the King County Prosecutor's Office.

"If she did that, then that's taking away from the kids. That ain't right -- at all," said parent Michael Rasher.

"It's just wrong. It's not right, and it's unbelievable that would happen. Especially a bunch of kids," said parent Annette Almoite.

When a KOMO reporter knocked on Wiley's door, her husband said he had no comment, but described his wife as a "nice woman."

Some 300 members belong to the Federal Way Hawks franchise, and about 210 players belong to the Federal Way American Little League. More than a thousand kids belong to the Puget Sound Football League. The leagues raise funds by selling concessions at games.

Last year on August 14, the organization was traumatized when a man was shot to death in front of the players after a practice.