Results matching “karen 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.

 

A preliminary hearing was postponed today for the former Gardena Chamber of Commerce executive director who is accused of embezzling more than $40,000 from her employer. Karen Sue Hale, 53, from Lawndale, will return to Torrance Superior Court Sept. 3.
Her attorney asked Judge William Beverly for the continuance because he said he just received new information from prosecutors.

In addition, Gardena police Detective Todd Fox told Beverly that he had information that Hale has, on a number of occasions, possibly violated a protective order filed against her by employees and volunteers of the Chamber. Beverly warned Hale that each violation of the order could land her in jail for six months. Hale, who worked for the non-profit organization for six years, was arrested after board members discovered missing money in November.

Just got this one:

To followup on our story about the embezzlement charges filed against former Gardena Chamber of Commerce executive director Karen Sue Hale, the District Attorney said Friday the actual amount she allegedly took was $41,885.63.

Hale, a Lawndale resident, posted her $141,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment April 24. If convicted of all counts, she could go to prison for up to 6 years and 4 months.

Denise will follow the Torrance court proceedings. Stay tuned.

In November, Karen Hale, the former executive director of the Gardena Chamber of Commerce, denied in a Daily Breeze article that she had taken $5,000 of the organization's funds.

Thursday evening, following three months of investigation and an audit of the chamber's bank accounts, Gardena police arrested Hale on suspicion of embezzlement.

They say it was $41,000.

Story: Chamber arrest