A former chief executive officer of The Painted Turtle, a nonprofit specialty camp for children with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions, pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he embezzled $5.2 million from the organization.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Theresa R. McGonigle ordered Christopher L. Butler, 49, of Porter Ranch to remain jailed in lieu of $835,000 bail while awaiting his next court appearance March 19.
Butler was arrested last Dec. 31 by Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office personnel, jail records show.
He is charged with nine felony counts of grand theft, five felony counts of forgery and one felony count of fraudulent use of a computer, officials said.
Butler is accused of embezzling the money from the group during his tenure from 2018 to 2025, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“Abusing a position of power to steal funds from a camp dedicated to helping children with serious medical conditions is an affront to both the law and our deepest values,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement last month announcing the charges. “My message is crystal clear: If you steal from the most vulnerable members of our community or the organizations that serve them, this office will use every tool the law allows to hold you fully accountable.”
If convicted as charged, Butler could face more than 18 years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.