King County prosecutors have charged a former Chinook Middle School PTSA treasurer with felony theft for allegedly stealing over $63,000 from an account he managed for the group.

Charging papers say PTSA board members contacted police in January to request charges against Clyde Hill resident James “David” Glass, who became the group’s treasurer in July 2008.

Glass oversaw an account for the PTSA group, but the two co-presidents believed they were signers for it. Glass never submitted their signature cards as directed, according to charging papers.

The Chinook PTSA board first became suspicious of Glass when they learned that the account was down to $400. Protocol for the group was to maintain a balance of at least $30,000.

The board later discovered a debit card in Glass’ name, along with several unauthorized transactions, including motel and hunting-license charges in South Dakota, a payment at Kenmore Shooting Range, and checks payable to Glass’ wife.

The PTSA group initially estimated that Glass stole just over $42,000 from its account.

The board confronted Glass in November. He admitted to pilfering over $42,000, and agreed to repay the money within three days, according to court documents.

Glass wrote a letter to the board in November, saying: “I make no excuse, and the only explanation I can offer is sheer personal desperation.”

Glass resigned his position that month and repaid the money as promised.

The board later learned that Glass had transferred over $25,000 from the group’s annual fundraising drive into an account for his market-research and strategy company, Ten Acres LLC, according to court documents.

Glass eventually repaid $64,125 in total to the PTSA group, according to charging papers. He is due for arraignment on May 19.