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.
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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."

"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.

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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."

"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..