People v. Bell CA4/3

FACTS

I.

THE INFORMATION

In January 2022, the prosecution charged Bell with grand theft by embezzlement (Pen. Code, §§ 487, subd. (a), 508). She pleaded not guilty, and the matter proceeded to trial.

II.

THE EVIDENCE AT TRIAL

A. The Prosecution’s Case Bell was the mother of two boys who played baseball in the league, one of eight leagues in California Little League Baseball, District 29. The league was run by a small, all-volunteer board of directors. Bell joined the board and, beginning in February 2017, served as the league’s treasurer. As treasurer, Bell was responsible for the league’s finances and reported on them to the board at monthly meetings. She was responsible for paying the league’s expenses and was in charge of the league’s bank account. Her name was on the account and she had a debit card and a checkbook for it. Bell was given all the money from registrations, snack bar sales, and other sources of income for the league. She was not authorized to make personal purchases using league funds or to withdraw cash from the league’s account. At some point during Bell’s tenure as treasurer, other board members became suspicious of her. She would report that the…