Softball tourney organizers formally charged, fighting back

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A Saline county couple is preparing to fight to clear their name.

They face allegations that they mishandled money generated by a big charity softball tournament.

When Shane and Lara Pigue were arrested in May they hoped that what they believed was a misunderstanding would be cleared up with cooperation and candor.
  
Most of the charges against them were dropped...but not all.  

"The filing of the criminal information is clearly disappointing."

That is the beginning of a statement issued on behalf of Shane and Lara Pigue last week after a special prosecutor charged each of them with three felony counts.  

Attorney Parker Jones goes onto say that "...criminal charges were..filed for what amounts to accounting errors."  
"We are very confident that when this investigation is over, people will owe their family and apology."

The Pigues have put on the annual Wally Hall Tournament of Champions since 2008.  

The adult softball and youth baseball tournament benefits local charities and has pumped millions of dollars into the Saline county economy.  

Recently released probable cause affidavits reveal that after a six month investigation Benton police decided that the Pigues were benefiting too.  

"An examination of financial documents and bank records revealed that much of the solicited income for the tournament was used for personal gain and not reflected on their tax returns as income to them."

Investigators found problems starting in 2012, which is when the Pigues began letting a friend...Kimberly McClendon...do their taxes rather than a CPA.  All charges against mcclendon have been dropped.  

The Pigues each face charges of failing to file a state tax return in 2013 and 2014 as well as filing a false or fraudulent return in 2012.  

Their attorney says once the facts are presented they will be vindicated of any criminal intent.  

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