She has repaid $7,000 to the league, but the majority of the missing funds are still in dispute. An additional $2,000 was reputedly contributed to a trust fund established for the case, but the monies were never received, according to league Vice President Santo Vaccaro.

The judge has asked the Santa Clara County Probation Department to work with Marshall, her defense attorney, Berny Saucedo, and the league to try to determine a final dollar amount.

"I think she got a great deal, getting only four months in custody for stealing over $20,000," said Santa Clara Deputy District Attorney Erin West. "I was certainly disappointed that the judge didn't sting her for that."

The DA's office wanted the judge to establish a repayment figure close to the disputed amount and to impose a stiffer sentence.

"It doesn't seem right that someone can steal that amount of money from kids and get that short a sentence," West said.

But she acknowledged that these situations are not uncommon.

Vaccaro was also hoping for closure.

"The league doesn't necessarily feel that the system has failed," he said. "Four months is four months, and that's OK. She didn't get away scot-free. But we would have been much more pleased if the judge had set the dollar amount, which would have put closure on the entire situation."

Vaccaro said the league is frustrated that it has to work with the probation department and prefers that the matter be resolved without their having to work with a new group of intermediaries. The missing funds have impacted the league's season financially, but according to Vaccaro, the parents continue to be supportive.

Marshall is to report to the Santa Clara County Jail on Nov. 22 to start serving her sentence, but since she has recently begun a new job, she might be able to serve her jail time through a work-furlough program. Such a program would permit her to continue working at her job during the day, but she would be in jail overnight.

It is an alternative to doing straight time, West said.

However, the work-furlough option is contingent upon her keeping her job. Marshall is worried that her employer will terminate her employment once the company learns about her conviction, Saucedo said.

"She is nervous about being able to serve her time through a work-furlough program," he noted. "It's our job to guide her through the process and through the probation department."

Saucedo said Marshall is "emotionally drained" and is in counseling for depression.

"It has been very hard on her. She is an emotional wreck," Saucedo said.

He added, "I don't think the league was satisfied with the decision, and I don't think Marshall was satisfied, but this is what the judge decided."