Former cheer booster treasurer pleads guilty to stealing funds

An Upper Burrell woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to the theft of nearly $19,000 from the Burrell Cheer Boosters.

Ashley Marie Frieberg, 41, agreed to repay the organization $8,900 as part of a deal with Westmoreland County prosecutors to plead guilty to a lesser charge related to theft allegations leveled against her last summer. Frieberg, according to police, served as the boosters treasurer for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. The organization’s finances is not affiliated with the Burrell School District.

During those two years, Frieberg was accused of using organization funds to finance a gambling addiction. According to court records, Frieberg diverted some funds to her personal accounts and made direct payments to on-line gambling sites and local casinos.

Police said she used her personal account to cover $10,600 of the booster organization’s bills.

As treasurer, Frieberg was responsible for all financial transactions and managed donations, police said

Prosecutors on Tuesday downgraded one felony count to allow Frieberg to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misappropriation of entrusted property and dismissed lesser charges of receiving stolen property and writing bad checks.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio sentenced Frieberg to serve one year on probation and ordered she make a direct restitution payment in full to the boosters organization.