Results tagged “Karen Sue Hale” from Crime & Courts

Karen Sue Hale's sentencing for one grand theft and four forgery convictions was postponed from today to May 29. The 53-year-old Lawndale woman, wearing blue and bright yellow jail clothes and handcuffs, made a brief courtroom appearance. As she conferred with her attorney, she kept glancing back at the half-dozen or so Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce people who had come to speak or watch the sentencing.

"Karen, keep your eyeballs forward," the bailiff warned her.

Previous entries are found here.

Look for the full story in tomorrow's Daily Breeze about the verdicts just a little while ago for Karen Sue Hale, 53, of Lawndale. The jury deliberated about an hour and a half before convicting her of one count of grand theft and four counts of forgery.

Trial began this morning for Karen Sue Hale, the former Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director accused of forging checks and stealing thousands from the non-profit organization.

Before opening statements got underway, though, jurors waiting in the hallway witnessed the final part of a heated dispute that began among audience members on a different case that Torrance Superior Court Judge James Brandlin handled this morning.

According to those who were in the courtroom, the murmurings escalated in the gallery to the point that Brandlin told everyone to hush up or they'd be kicked out. I'm not sure what case is was - possibly an attempted murder. The group took their dischord to the hallway, where some say punches were thrown but the Sheriff's Department says it was only a verbal altercation.

When I arrived, I saw a crowd of people being talked to by a bailiff and a hallway full of jurors for this case and others, as well as at least a dozen bailiffs (deputies).

Once the Hale jury was called in, Brandlin asked them what they saw and if it would affect their ability to judge Hale's trial. Most raised their hands to indicate they saw it. A female juror said: "I didn't like it. I was scared."

"Understandably so," Brandlin replied. But she and others agreed they could put aside what they saw to be fair on this case.

Opening statements then got underway and the first witness to testify, former board president Freddie Davis, took the stand. Look for my full report on the trial in tomorrow's Daily Breeze and on dailybreeze.com.

Previously:

Former Gardena chamber exec to stand trial

The stacks of bank documents presented during Karen Sue Hale's preliminary hearing today was daunting. But, depsite Judge Laura Ellison's stern warning to the prosecutor to find a way to sum up the evidence, it didn't happen. So,on the witness stand, Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce Treasurer Glenn Mitchell went one-by-one over the 166 deposits and withdraws, plus the 30 or so checks, Hale allegedly made without authorization.

Hale is accused of embezzling $39,959 from her former employer by depositing membership funds and donations into an account she was directed to close, then taking the funds back out. Not sure what happened to most the money, but some went to L.A. Galaxy soccer tickets, some went to a new computer and some of the checks were written to the 53-year-old Lawndale woman's husband.

She comes back to Torrance court Sept. 17 for arraignment. We'll have a full story on the prelim in tomorrow's Daily Breeze.