Ronchi pleads guilty
GATEHOUSE MEDIA

BATH - The co-owner of a local cheerleading organization pleaded guilty Tuesday, June 17, to stealing money from a fundraising company last year. He was the second coowner to admit guilt.

Anthony Ronchi, 27, of Fairport, pleaded guilty Tuesday to petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor, in Steuben County Court.

Ronchi is one of three coowners of the Northeast Elite Cheerleading organization, with offices in Bath and Rochester.

He and a second co-owner, Heather Crowe, 21, also of Fairport, stole more than $3,000 from a fundraising company, police said. According to state police, the pair failed to pay the company after using its fundraising services.

Initially, Ronchi and Crowe were charged with third-degree grand larceny and two counts of scheme to defraud. They could have received time in state prison if convicted of those charges.

A class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.

Both Ronchi and Crowe are scheduled to be sentenced in September. Both are currently free with out bail.

According to state police, no cheerleader of guardian had anything to do with the crime.