Posted on 07/12/2006 7:10:08 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SANTA ROSA
The former head of a theater company named for 12-year-old murder victim Polly Klaas was sentenced to eight months in jail for embezzling thousands of dollars from the group.
Promoter Jack Stein, 61, was sentenced Tuesday in Sonoma County Superior Court for stealing from the theater company from 2003 to 2004 as it was trying to raise money to renovate the Polly Hannah Klaas Performing Arts Theater building.
Stein admitted stealing $6,300 as the group was trying raise money to renovate its performance center.
But an audit uncovered losses of nearly $30,000, said board President Austin Garner. Stein wrote hundreds of unauthorized checks and showed fake financial records to board members to cover up the embezzlement, Garner said.
Stein's lawyer, Kevin McConnell, argued for probation based on Stein's age and "lifetime of public service."
Stein, an ex-husband of entertainer Susan Anton, was named executive director when the theater company was formed in 2003. He oversaw a production of "West Side Story" at Sonoma State University that was canceled two weeks before opening night after the theft were discovered.
Stein served four months in jail in 1999 for a third-degree grand larceny conviction in New York for spending $3,900 on a business partner's credit card.
Stein was also arrested after Anton, a former Miss California who starred on the Baywatch television show and appeared in movies and on Broadway, accused him in Beverly Hills of forgery for allegedly taking out four credit cards in her name from 1990 to 1994. Prosecutors dropped the case.
Stein was ordered to turn himself in to Sonoma County authorities on Oct. 9. A Sept. 29 hearing was scheduled to determine Stein's restitution to the theater company, named for the Petaluma girl who was kidnapped from her home during a slumber party in 1993.
The Klaas case became national news after residents of her hometown threw themselves into finding her after her disappearance and her parents devoted themselves to preventing similar tragedies when it turned out she had been murdered.
Klaas' father, Marc Klaas, said at the hearing that Stein exploited a "pure cause" and preyed upon a trusting community.
"Shame on you, Stein," Klaas said. "For me, the most serious betrayal, beyond the money, is the betrayal of my baby's name."
This guy has apparently been stealing other people's money his entire life. What a cretin!!
So the guy stole and then they hired him to run the place?
They got what they deserved
Klaas' father, Marc Klaas, said at the hearing that Stein exploited a "pure cause" and preyed upon a trusting community.
"Shame on you, Stein," Klaas said. "For me, the most serious betrayal, beyond the money, is the betrayal of my baby's name."
YEA!!! Her dad is the only one who can do that!!
Looks like he only steals from people who are close to him....soft targets.
Marc Klaas is in the Cindy Sheehan school of exploitation of a family tragedy.
Hildy wrote:
Marc Klaas is in the Cindy Sheehan school of exploitation of a family tragedy.
--- I haven't heard anything positive ever about Mr Klass either.
I actually take that back...at least Cindy is honest about her motives. I don't believe Klaas ever was.
Hildy, I quote Hillary: For taking it back, i may have to spank you with a broomstick ;) :P Tee hee hee.
Really? I'd never thought he was that bad -- but granted, I never paid that much attention to the case. I just remember Winona Ryder being involved and using the case as a photo-op. What has he done that's Sheehan-worthy?
I was in Florida when the Klaas case happened, so the coverage wasn't that extensive.
He's a professional griever, making money every step of the way...ingratiating himself into other people's tragedies, etc.
Old habits die hard.
The most ridiculous thing, in a similar vein, that I heard was Patty Hearst talking about her time "in da joint".
She said she worked in the kitchen. The Manson "girls" were in charge of the knives.
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