THORBOURN
People v. THORBOURN
Opinion
Opinion
Rubin, J.
The People of the State of California appeal from an order under Penal Code section 1385 dismissing a grand jury indictment of defendant and respondent Jean Thorbourn on numerous counts of forgery, embezzlement, and tax fraud. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse the order and remand with directions to resubmit the matter to the grand jury. (Pen. Code, § 1009.)
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Jean Thorbourn once worked as a bookkeeper at Hebrew Union College (HUC). In December 2000, the Los Angeles County Grand Jury indicted Thorbourn on 18 counts based on allegations that she embezzled more than $1 million from HUC between September 1991 and February 1997. Testifying against Thorbourn at the grand jury hearing were two rabbis who supervised Thorbourn when they were serving as HUC’s deans during 1989 to 1997. Before the grand jury, one of those rabbis identified various HUC checks bearing his ink-stamped signature which he contended had not been authorized by him.
The.statute of limitations for grand theft and forgery is four years, but that period does not begin to run until the crimes are discovered. (§§ 801.5, 803, subd. (c)(1).) In April 2001 Thorbourn moved to…