KENAI, Alaska – A Superior Court judge in Kenai has set a trial date for a man who is charged with establishing a charity for overseas soldiers and keeping most of the donations for personal use.
Frank Roach of Kenai is scheduled to begin trial Dec. 15. The trial date was set by Kenai Superior Court Judge Carl Bauman at a status hearing Monday, the Peninsula Clarion reported.
Roach was the organizer of the nonprofit Alaska Veterans Outreach Boxes for Heroes. State prosecutors say Roach hired people to solicit donations in front of stores, but that he used much of the money for living expenses.
He is charged with scheming to defraud and eight counts of theft. He was indicted more than two years ago.
Boxes for Heroes had three founding members, but only Roach is charged.
The group raised more than $140,000 in donations between April 2010 and October 2011, authorities said. Roach, the president of the Boxes for Heroes organization, is accused of using the money as his sole source of income.
His trial has been delayed several times. Roach received medical care in Wasilla and has gone through several changes in legal representation.
Wasilla attorney Greg Parvin was appointed Sept. 5 to represent Roach, becoming his fourth attorney on the case.
At Monday's hearing, Roach said he has not yet met with the attorney. Another attorney, Andrew Miller, represented Roach at the hearing. Both participated telephonically.
Also at the hearing, the judge said he is a friend of a witness who has testified to the grand jury in the case. Bauman said he wanted it noted, adding he didn't believe the friendship is a conflict of interest.
