Christopher L. Butler, the former CEO of The Painted Turtle, faces embezzlement charges after Los Angeles County prosecutors filed 15 felony counts accusing him of stealing $5.2 million from the Paul Newman-founded camp for seriously ill children over a seven-year period. Butler was being held on $835,000 bail as of early January 2026.1LA County District Attorney’s Office. CEO Charged With Embezzling Over $5M From The Painted Turtle Camp for Children With Serious Medical Conditions
What Butler Is Accused of Doing
Prosecutors allege Butler took $5.2 million from The Painted Turtle between 2018 and 2025, the years he led the Southern California nonprofit. The alleged theft reached nearly $1 million in a single year, 2022, according to the Los Angeles Times.2Los Angeles Times. Ex-CEO of Paul Newman-Founded Nonprofit for Sick Kids Embezzled Over $5 Million, Prosecutors Say
The criminal complaint says Butler was able to do this because he served as both CEO and the organization’s controller, giving him direct access to financial records with little oversight. He is accused of accessing, altering, deleting, and destroying data on the nonprofit’s computer systems to conceal the theft.3The NonProfit Times. Ex-CEO at Newman-Founded Camp Charged With Embezzlement In the final year of the alleged scheme, prosecutors say, Butler also stole the organization’s computers along with an additional $50,000 in property.2Los Angeles Times. Ex-CEO of Paul Newman-Founded Nonprofit for Sick Kids Embezzled Over $5 Million, Prosecutors Say
How the Alleged Theft Came to Light
The scheme went undetected for years because Butler controlled the books himself. That ended when The Painted Turtle hired Cayla Yasukochi as its new financial controller in July 2025, the same month Butler left the organization. Yasukochi began auditing the books shortly after starting and identified what she believed were irregularities caused by Butler, according to the complaint filed by District Attorney Nathan Hochman.4Signal. DA Reports Millions in Theft From Painted Turtle Before her arrival, prosecutors said, neither the nonprofit nor law enforcement had any knowledge of the alleged violations.3The NonProfit Times. Ex-CEO at Newman-Founded Camp Charged With Embezzlement
The Charges and Potential Sentence
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed the case on December 29, 2025, under case number 25CJCF08298. Butler is charged with 15 felony counts: nine counts of grand theft, five counts of forgery, and one count of fraudulent use of a computer. If convicted on all counts, he faces more than 18 years in state prison. The District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.5LA County. CEO Charged With Embezzling Over $5M From The Painted Turtle
Butler, 49, of Porter Ranch, was scheduled for arraignment on January 15, 2026, in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles.1LA County District Attorney’s Office. CEO Charged With Embezzling Over $5M From The Painted Turtle Camp for Children With Serious Medical Conditions Hochman said Butler’s alleged crimes targeted an organization “dedicated to helping children with serious medical conditions” and affected “the most vulnerable members of our community.”3The NonProfit Times. Ex-CEO at Newman-Founded Camp Charged With Embezzlement
Where the Camp Stands
The Painted Turtle’s board of directors said in a statement: “Investigations by independent auditors and law enforcement have been undertaken and we’re being advised by legal counsel. This was a shocking and saddening discovery for us. Our primary commitment is always to the children and families that we serve. And this activity will not affect that commitment.”3The NonProfit Times. Ex-CEO at Newman-Founded Camp Charged With Embezzlement Spokesperson Glenn Bozarth confirmed the camp plans to continue programming, though questions remain about recovery of the lost funds.2Los Angeles Times. Ex-CEO of Paul Newman-Founded Nonprofit for Sick Kids Embezzled Over $5 Million, Prosecutors Say