La Verne girls softball treasurer pleads not guilty to embezzlement

By Daniel Tedford, Staff Writer

POMONA - A Pomona woman charged with embezzling $55,000 from a La Verne softball league pleaded not guilty today in court.

A bail review hearing was also set for Christine Lopez, 38, for Sept. 2 when the former softball treasurer appeared at Pomona Superior Court this morning.

Lopez declined comment as she left the courtroom, surrounded by friends and family. She also instructed her attorney not to comment.

Lopez was arrested Jan. 8 by the La Verne Police Department for embezzlement from the softball league, for whom she had served on the board as treasurer.

Lopez had been put on suspension by the league while they performed an audit using an outside agency, officials said. Following the audit, they turned to the police.

As a result of the preliminary investigation, a search warrant was served at Lopez's residence in Pomona, police said.

Documents and bank records were seized and both Lopez and her husband Dominic were taken into custody without incident, police said.

The husband was later released pending further investigation, while Lopez posted bail.

Police had originally estimated and charged Lopez with embezzling $20,000. When Lopez was arraigned Monday, those charges had changed to $55,000.