Local News in Brief : Man Sentenced for Pocketing Donations
A Westwood man has been sentenced to nine months in jail for pocketing contributions he solicited on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and a Fairfax district temple.
Charles Lonberger, 38, was sentenced by Municipal Court Commissioner Joseph Spada after pleading no contest to one count of forgery and two counts of false advertising.
Lonberger was hired on Dec. 29 to organize a fund-raising event for the SPCA, which advanced him $2,000 for expenses, Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn said. The agreement was canceled a week later, but Lonberger continued to use the group’s name to solicit contributions, Hahn said.
The forgery charge involved Lonberger’s alteration of a check to Temple Beth Am, he said. Spada scheduled a March 23 hearing to determine what restitution Lonberger should pay.
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