A Clyde Hill man has admitted to embezzling money from the Chinook Middle School PTSA while he was treasurer of the group.

The Chinook PTSA says David Glass stole at least $45,000 while he was in charge of its finances.

Glass submitted a letter to the PTSA board in November apologizing for taking funds from the organization for his own use.

“I make no excuse, and the only explanation I can offer is sheer personal desperation,” he wrote.

Glass resigned as treasurer of the Chinook PTSA in November.

“I have harmed the community that I have fought so hard to stay in and to keep my family part of, the community that at the end of my private rope seemed all I had left,” his letter said.

The PTSA board confronted Glass after First Mutual Bank alerted the group of suspicious activity.

Glass was treasurer of the Chinook PTSA for around two years. The board suspects he took as much as $58,000, although a financial audit was still ongoing at The Reporter deadline.

“We were very shocked and disappointed, but our Number One goal was to get the funds back so we can move forward with the rest of our school year,” said Chinook PTSA president Angie Lampkin.

Glass has already paid back around $45,000, according to Lampkin.

The Chinook PTSA board is working on a plan to have him repay the remaining funds.

The board also voted to file a report with the Clyde Hill Police Department, although the report was not complete at The Reporter deadline.

“It’s hard to make that kind of decision about someone in the community, but I think they’re doing the right thing,” said Bellevue PTSA Council President Janet Suppes. “My main concern is that other organizations are aware of what happened so they don’t give him access to money.”

Glass has worked as a financial professional for most of his adult life, according to his letter. He owns the market research and strategy firm Ten Acres, which maintains a post office box in Bellevue.

Glass refused an opportunity interview with The Reporter, and instead asked friend Tony Williams, of the public-affairs consulting firm Washington 2 Advocates, to represent him.

“This is a beloved member of the community, and not what you would think of as a typical Clyde Hill family,” Williams said, adding that Glass was “on the edge financially and struggling with his business.”

Glass has also served as a lacrosse coach and youth director for Bellevue Boys Lacrosse.