State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced Monday his office issued a demand in the amount of $11,756.89 to former Vicksburg High School Football Coach, Alonzo Stevens.

Stevens, the District 2 school board member, owes $6,237.39 for principle, $1,203.06 for interest and $4,316.44 for investigative costs.

“He took money that was commissioned off of vending machines that was supposed to go to athletic booster clubs and he put it into his own personal accounts,” Pickering said Tuesday.

Pickering said $6,237.39 that was intended for athletic accounts was deposited into Stevens’ personal accounts.

“The state law allows us to charge one percent interest from the time of the loss until the time the demand is issued, plus our investigative costs,” he said, explaining the additional charges included in the $11,756.89 demand.

Stevens will have a minimum of 30 days to pay the money to the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor who will then return the funds to their rightful owner, Pickering said.

“Booster clubs raise money for the school district; therefore, under state law those are public funds, not private,” he said.

In the event that Stevens does not pay back the money, Pickering’s office has the authority to file a civil suit to recover the money on behalf of the school district.

Warren County District Attorney Richard Smith, Jr. said his office received a case file on the incident in November 2013 but decided not to press charges against Stevens.

“The auditors did bring a case to me,” he said. “Based on our investigation, and what we were provided by the auditors office, we chose not to prosecute.”

Smith said it was his opinion there was not enough evidence to convince a jury Stevens was guilty.

“Based on our investigation and what we were provided by the auditor’s office it appeared we would not have enough information to obtain a conviction,” he said.

The decision not to prosecute was made in late 2014 or early 2015, Smith said.

“We took additional steps, we spoke to individuals who were identified in the discovery we were provided by the state auditor,” he said. “I’m not sure if the state auditor has acquired additional information.”

Smith said his office was not informed Pickering would be making a demand on Stevens.

“Even though this matter does arise as a criminal act there is some civil liability,” Smith said. “It appears the state auditors office is going to attempt to recover funds using civil action.”

Stevens declined to comment when contacted by The Post.

Stevens retired from the Vicksburg Warren School District in May of 2012, and in the same year was elected to the school board.

Stevens had 30 years experience as a teacher and coach for the VWSD. He also taught and coached at Alcorn State University for eight years.

Stevens is currently the District 6 West Central Area representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.