Money given to players
Notre Dame booster pleads guilty to embezzlement
Posted: Thursday August 13, 1998 12:08 PM
SOUTH BEND, Indiana (AP) -- A former Notre Dame booster accused of embezzling more than $1 million from her former employer and then giving some of the money to Irish players as gifts pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of felony theft.
Kimberly Dunbar, 29, entered the guilty plea in St. Joseph County Superior Court without a sentencing agreement and faces up to 16 years in prison and a $20,000 fine at a sentencing hearing September 28.
Prosecutors are expected to request that Dunbar be ordered to pay restitution of approximately $1 million to Jerry Dominiack as part of her sentencing.
St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Barnes said his investigation has not produced any evidence that current or former Notre Dame players are guilty of any crime. But he also added that the statute of limitations on felony crimes is five years and that the probe is not closed.
Notre Dame informed the NCAA of the gifts in February and began an internal investigation. School officials then sent their findings to the NCAA for an interpretation of any possible rules violations.
The NCAA found Dunbar was acting as a university representative as a member of the now-disbanded Quarterback Club and found two rules violations and informed the school that it could face sanctions for the infractions.
Dunbar, who has a child with former Notre Dame player Jarvis Edison, gave 12 former or current players jewelry, clothing and trips, including an outing to a Chicago Bulls game, Notre Dame found.
Dunbar's plea in the criminal proceedings now allows prosecutors to share their records with civil attorneys for Dominiack, who owns Dominiack Mechanical Inc., the South Bend heating and cooling company where Dunbar used to work as a bookkeeper.
He has filed a civil suit seeking $1.4 million in damages from Dunbar, her mother and sister, and five former Notre Dame players.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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