Stallions founder sent to Arkansas

By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer

May 28, 2009 04:00 am

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The founder of the Oneonta Stallions adult football team was extradited to Arkansas on Tuesday night to face felony theft charges.

Authorities from Harrison, Ark., took custody of Donald Stanton Sr., 53, of Otego, at the Otsego County jail.

Stanton was arrested by state police May 15 as a fugitive.

Troopers had uncovered the outstanding warrant from Arkansas while investigating other allegations involving Stanton.

An investigator with Margaretville state police said those allegations involved the ordering of football team-related merchandise from a Delhi-area business.

"It's looking like the case down here was civil in nature," Investigator Alan Ferrara said Wednesday. "There's already a civil judgement against Mr. Stanton."

Ferrara said it appears there is no criminal case at this time against Stanton.

Otsego County District Attorney John Muehl said there are potential charges against Stanton stemming from a complaint from a former team member in the Schenevus-Maryland area. The state police have been contacted about that complaint, which involves money paid by the player to Stanton, Muehl said.

Stanton is wanted in Arkansas for allegedly hiring _ but not paying _ several contractors to perform more than $25,000 of work on a restaurant he intended to open in Harrison several years ago, Capt. Paul Woodruff of the Harrison Police Department said previously.

He is also suspected of receiving $12,000 in grant funding from a Harrison downtown-improvement group to assist with the restaurant, Woodruff said.

Stanton faces two felony counts of theft of property stemming from the alleged activity, which occurred between October and November 2004, Woodruff said.

The Oneonta Stallions, which bills itself as a semi-pro football team, was organized last year and is scheduled to play its first season in the Regional American Football League this summer. The Stallions first game is scheduled for July 11, according to the RAFL website.

The team has practiced without Stanton, who was held at the Otsego County jail after his arrest, pending extradition. Arkansas authorities had until Friday to pick up Stanton or he would have been released.