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CA: San Diego Court employee caught stealing CS payments
For those not from the West, it's pronounced: El Cah-hone, not El Cah-John.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/m...m18macias.html Superior Court employee pleads not guilty Prosecutor says fees, fines stolen By Ray Huard UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER February 18, 2006 An accounting supervisor in El Cajon Superior Court stole court fees and fines that could total hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past 10 to 15 years to support a gambling habit and took or destroyed court files to cover his tracks, prosecutors said yesterday. "He would take the cash and there was no way to trace it," prosecutor Mike Still said in San Diego Superior Court yesterday. David Anthony Macias, 47, pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of stealing more than $60,000 in cash, checks and credit-card receipts over the weekend of Jan. 20. Still said the weekend theft was a small share of what Macias allegedly took over a decade or more. The money was used to cover gambling losses that reached up to $1,500 every other day at Barona Casino, where Macias "was known as a big-time gambler," the prosecutor said. The prosecutor said Macias would play poker and other card games at the casino, betting $100 to $150 a hand. Macias, in a three-hour interview with investigators, "admitted taking the money and gambling it away," Still said outside court. Sheriff's deputies found "a treasure trove" of hundreds of court files dating back more than a decade strewn about Macias' bedroom in the Spring Valley apartment he shared with his mother, Still said. "It was a mess," Still said. Describing in court what he said investigators have pieced together so far, Still said Macias would pocket cash payments meant to cover fines, fees and other court costs, such as child support, at the El Cajon courthouse. To cover the theft, Macias would take home or destroy the case files, Still said. Still said investigators have yet to determine if anyone had to repay fines and fees in cases where Macias is accused of stealing the files. Judge Pamela L. Iles ordered Macias held in jail in lieu of $500,000 bail pending a Feb. 22 bail-review hearing. The judge also scheduled a March 17 hearing to determine whether evidence is sufficient for a trial. Iles was brought from Orange County to hear the case to avoid any possible conflict of interest San Diego County judges might have because Macias worked in the courts, said Karen Dalton, a court spokeswoman. "Because the case involves not only the court as a victim but a court employee, it just makes sense to bring in someone," Dalton said. Bail had been set at $250,000 after Macias' arrest Tuesday. Prosecutor Still said a higher bail was warranted because Macias had been on the run for three weeks, turning himself in to San Francisco police Tuesday after he had spent the money he had with him. The prosecutor said Macias remained a flight risk because "he may have access to large sums of cash" taken from the court over the years. Macias currently is charged with four counts of theft. He is accused of taking $61,787 over the weekend of Jan. 20, but Still told the judge "there are potentially hundreds of other charges." The prosecutor said Macias faces "many years in state prison" if convicted but added that it was impossible to estimate the maximum potential penalty because additional charges are expected. Defense attorney Robert Ford said a lower bail was warranted because Macias is a lifelong resident of San Diego County and has no criminal record. "He's come to grips with facing these charges and handling them in an appropriate manner," Ford told the judge. Macias, who is on unpaid leave, has an annual salary of $64,600, court spokeswoman Karen Dalton said. Macias has worked in the Superior Court Clerk's Office since 1977 and in the El Cajon branch since 1987, Dalton said. She said that at the time of the January incident, Macias worked in the criminal-calendar section of the court's business office, which prepares the daily listing of trials and other court hearings. Macias became a suspect when he failed to show up for work Jan. 23 and didn't call in sick, Still said. Security-camera videotapes showed Macias entering and leaving the court building over the weekend. Dalton said court officials have no idea how much money Macias might have taken over the long term. "To say that this is an embarrassment for the courts is an understatement," Dalton said. Without giving details, Dalton said court officials are reviewing security procedures, but she added that "whenever you have a system that is glued together with trust, you have a potential problem." |
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San Diego Court employee caught stealing CS payments
"Dusty" wrote in message ... For those not from the West, it's pronounced: El Cah-hone, not El Cah-John. Can you pronounce La Jolla or Escondido? Here's an easy one: Tijuana. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/m...m18macias.html Superior Court employee pleads not guilty Prosecutor says fees, fines stolen By Ray Huard UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER February 18, 2006 An accounting supervisor in El Cajon Superior Court stole court fees and fines that could total hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past 10 to 15 years to support a gambling habit and took or destroyed court files to cover his tracks, prosecutors said yesterday. "He would take the cash and there was no way to trace it," prosecutor Mike Still said in San Diego Superior Court yesterday. David Anthony Macias, 47, pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of stealing more than $60,000 in cash, checks and credit-card receipts over the weekend of Jan. 20. Still said the weekend theft was a small share of what Macias allegedly took over a decade or more. The money was used to cover gambling losses that reached up to $1,500 every other day at Barona Casino, where Macias "was known as a big-time gambler," the prosecutor said. The prosecutor said Macias would play poker and other card games at the casino, betting $100 to $150 a hand. Macias, in a three-hour interview with investigators, "admitted taking the money and gambling it away," Still said outside court. Sheriff's deputies found "a treasure trove" of hundreds of court files dating back more than a decade strewn about Macias' bedroom in the Spring Valley apartment he shared with his mother, Still said. "It was a mess," Still said. Describing in court what he said investigators have pieced together so far, Still said Macias would pocket cash payments meant to cover fines, fees and other court costs, such as child support, at the El Cajon courthouse. To cover the theft, Macias would take home or destroy the case files, Still said. Still said investigators have yet to determine if anyone had to repay fines and fees in cases where Macias is accused of stealing the files. Judge Pamela L. Iles ordered Macias held in jail in lieu of $500,000 bail pending a Feb. 22 bail-review hearing. The judge also scheduled a March 17 hearing to determine whether evidence is sufficient for a trial. Iles was brought from Orange County to hear the case to avoid any possible conflict of interest San Diego County judges might have because Macias worked in the courts, said Karen Dalton, a court spokeswoman. "Because the case involves not only the court as a victim but a court employee, it just makes sense to bring in someone," Dalton said. Bail had been set at $250,000 after Macias' arrest Tuesday. Prosecutor Still said a higher bail was warranted because Macias had been on the run for three weeks, turning himself in to San Francisco police Tuesday after he had spent the money he had with him. The prosecutor said Macias remained a flight risk because "he may have access to large sums of cash" taken from the court over the years. Macias currently is charged with four counts of theft. He is accused of taking $61,787 over the weekend of Jan. 20, but Still told the judge "there are potentially hundreds of other charges." The prosecutor said Macias faces "many years in state prison" if convicted but added that it was impossible to estimate the maximum potential penalty because additional charges are expected. Defense attorney Robert Ford said a lower bail was warranted because Macias is a lifelong resident of San Diego County and has no criminal record. "He's come to grips with facing these charges and handling them in an appropriate manner," Ford told the judge. Macias, who is on unpaid leave, has an annual salary of $64,600, court spokeswoman Karen Dalton said. Macias has worked in the Superior Court Clerk's Office since 1977 and in the El Cajon branch since 1987, Dalton said. She said that at the time of the January incident, Macias worked in the criminal-calendar section of the court's business office, which prepares the daily listing of trials and other court hearings. Macias became a suspect when he failed to show up for work Jan. 23 and didn't call in sick, Still said. Security-camera videotapes showed Macias entering and leaving the court building over the weekend. Dalton said court officials have no idea how much money Macias might have taken over the long term. "To say that this is an embarrassment for the courts is an understatement," Dalton said. Without giving details, Dalton said court officials are reviewing security procedures, but she added that "whenever you have a system that is glued together with trust, you have a potential problem." |
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San Diego Court employee caught stealing CS payments
"Chris" wrote in message
news:s1QKf.4162$Sp2.3212@fed1read02... "Dusty" wrote in message ... For those not from the West, it's pronounced: El Cah-hone, not El Cah-John. Can you pronounce La Jolla or Escondido? Here's an easy one: Tijuana. sigh I see no good deed still goes unpunished.. |
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