A second charge of petty theft scheme was filed yesterday against a man accused of soliciting donations for children's sports and then keeping the money, and Baltimore County police say at least 80 people have reported they gave the man money.

Kirk Russell Bryant, 29, of the 1300 block of Saratoga Ave. was being held in the Woodlawn precinct pending a bail hearing yesterday, said Officer Morgan Hassler.

After the first criminal charge was reported by the media, a woman who did not want to be identified called and said Bryant had tried to collect money from her and became angry when she declined. "[She said] he was argumentative belligerent," Hassler said.

Bryant was charged three weeks ago with petty theft scheme after a Woodlawn woman called police to complain about him. Mary Rose Connolly said she had given him money a couple of times a year for several years, but became suspicious when she wrote him a check and he asked her to make it out to him instead of a recreation center.

Police said Bryant worked neighborhoods in Baltimore County for years, asking for donations "for the kids" for recreation centers. He is not affiliated with any recreation centers, Hassler said, but has collected dozens of donations ranging from $6 to $15. Some contributors said they have been giving him money two or three times a year for six or seven years, Hassler said. Bryant has several criminal convictions, including one for drug possession and one for a petty theft scheme.

"We've gotten calls from as far away as Bel Air and all the way down to Anne Arundel," Hassler said.

Pub Date: 3/13/99