Three Saddleback High Athletes Arrested in Credit Card Theft

SANTA ANA — Three Saddleback High School sprinters who allegedly charged $3,000 to credit cards from a wallet stolen from the school’s athletic director were arrested last week, Santa Ana Police said Tuesday.

According to police records, the three runners stole Athletic Director Jerry Witte’s wallet from a physical education office last Wednesday and used an American Express card to buy electronics and sporting goods.

Police said the credit card company called Witte on Wednesday to alert him that someone was trying to charge $800 to his card and did not have proper identification.

After an investigation by police, the youths were arrested Friday morning at school and booked into Orange County juvenile hall, charged with petty theft.

The three athletes, all 17-year-old juniors, have been suspended from school and did not compete in the Southern Section 3-A track and field preliminaries Saturday at Camarillo High. Saddleback withdrew from the 400- and 1,600-meter relays and only one sprinter and one shotputter qualified for Friday’s section finals at Cerritos College.

Witte would not comment for the record.

“We have no official statement,” Saddleback principal Robert Nelson said. “We have a sense of obligation to protect the privacy of our students.”

He said the students, though suspended, had not been expelled but face “school disciplinary action.” He did not elaborate.

The three runners dominated the sprint events at the Sea View League championships May 2 and were expected to help Saddleback challenge for the section 3-A team championship.