Local News
Man accused of bogus solicitation
Jay Meisel | Highlands Today
Published: February 8, 2013
AVON PARK - An Avon Park man was arrested Wednesday after having been accused of seeking donations for Highlands County Habitat for Humanity, without being authorized to do so.Published: February 8, 2013
Authorities also accused Daniel Lee Batterbee, 33, of 206 E. Thomas St., Avon Park, of pocketing the donations, instead of giving the money to Habitat.
Batterbee was arrested by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office and charged with misrepresenting charitable endorsement without permission, failure to properly apply solicited charitable contributions, using an emblem of another charitable organization, petit theft and misrepresenting that the solicitation of funds will go to a charitable organization.
The arrest came after a business contacted Habitat and told representatives that Batterbee had created a flier with Habitat's emblem. Habitat then contacted authorities, a warrant affidavit said.
Batterbee is accused of approaching at least six businesses in October 2012 and receiving a $200 donation from Olympic Restaurant in Avon Park and $50 from Wild Turkey, the affidavit said.
The suspect admitted to authorities that he created the flier, that he never talked with anyone at Habitat and that he collected donations, the affidavit said.
He also told authorities he deposited the checks he received into his personal account, the warrant said.
Since October 2012, he has not given the money to Habitat or made contact with the organization, he told authorities.
John Hawthorne, executive director of Habitat, said any nonprofit organization can be the victim of such a crime.
Fortunately, he said, Habitat has established relationships with donors who will let the organization know if such bogus solicitations are occurring.
Habitat does not solicit door to door or business to business, he said. It seeks donations through its website and has fundraising events during the year.
"We probably won't be able to prevent such fraud, but we can do our best to let people know how they can donate to us," Hawthorne said.