Overview
- Christopher L. Butler, 49, is being held on $835,000 bail after a Dec. 31 arrest, with arraignment scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles.
- The Los Angeles County District Attorney filed nine counts of grand theft, five counts of forgery and one count of fraudulent computer use, carrying a potential sentence of more than 18 years if convicted.
- Authorities allege the embezzlement spanned 2018 to 2025 and reached nearly $1 million in 2022, totaling about $5.2 million.
- The complaint details forged checks, the modification or deletion of digital records and the theft of camp computers, with about $50,000 in other property reported stolen or damaged.
- The Painted Turtle says independent auditors reviewed its finances and the organization is cooperating with law enforcement while continuing its programs.