Embezzlement

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- A Ranson, W.Va., woman and her daughter were arraigned Wednesday in Jefferson County Magistrate Court on charges they embezzled thousands of dollars from Citizens Volunteer Fire Co. Auxiliary, West Virginia State Police said in a news release. Christine Stotler, 50, of 102 Marl Drive, was arraigned on counts of embezzlement and conspiracy to commit embezzlement, according to a release by 1st Sgt. E.D. Burnett. Jenifer Lyn Penwell, 26, of the same address, was arraigned on one count of accessory to embezzlement and one count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement, according to the release.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Hagerstown man is accused of embezzling more than $31,000 from a state-funded agency while acting as a transportation contractor for Berkeley County School students with special needs. Marc Allen Porreca, 50, of 479 Links View Drive, was arraigned Wednesday by Berkeley County Magistrate Joan V. Bragg on one count of obtaining money by false pretenses, according to court records. Bragg set a $10,000 bond for Porreca, who police allege obtained the money from Regional Education Service Agency (RESA)

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - The former executive director of the Berkeley County Public Service Sewer District on Friday avoided jail time and payment of $22,649 in restitution more than four months after entering a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor count of embezzlement. Walter H. Sebert Jr. was fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs by 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Christopher C. Wilkes. Sebert was indicted in October 2006 by a Berkeley County grand jury on a felony count of embezzlement, and previously was named in a 12-count indictment in February 2005.

The manager of the 2007 state champion South Berkeley Little League team was indicted this week on one count of embezzlement by a grand jury seated in Berkeley County for the October term of court, according to Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Jean Games-Neely's office. Larry A. Custer, 45, of 35 Bryarly Mill Lane in Inwood, W.Va., originally was charged in February with 133 counts of fraudulent use of the little league's credit card between September 2007 and January 2008.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA.-The former executive director of the Berkeley County chapter of the American Red Cross has been accused of stealing more than $14,000 from the organization, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records. Jonathon A. Jarrell, 42, of 519 West Virginia Ave. in Martinsburg, was arraigned Friday on one felony count of embezzlement, which was filed against him by West Virginia State Police Trooper J.M. Walker, according to court records. Walker said Friday the matter still was under investigation after Magistrate Joan V. Bragg earlier set a $10,000 personal recognizance bond in an arraignment hearing for Jarrell.

A Martinsburg man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from his disabled brother in the last five years, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records. Kenneth Leroy Bivens, 55, of 6 Midnoon Drive, was arraigned Thursday by Magistrate JoAnn Overington on one felony count of embezzlement, according to court documents. West Virginia State Police Cpl. J.M. Walker said he identified $126,044 in funds that were missing and/or converted by Bivens for his personal use, according to a criminal complaint filed against Bivens.

Two former agents for a criminal bonding business are accused of writing more than $1.2 million in unauthorized bonds while conspiring to embezzle from their employer, according to Berkeley County Magistrate Court records. Mathew Francis and Shelly L. Garrison, both of Martinsburg, are charged with single counts of embezzlement and conspiracy, the court records said. Francis, 38, was arraigned Thursday by Magistrate Sandra L. Miller, who set a $15,000 personal recognizance bond for the defendant, the records said.

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martinsburg@herald-mail.com The former interim director of the Martinsburg Boys & Girls Club, who already faces one count of embezzlement, faces a second count after allegations surfaced that he used club money to pay his rent and for automotive repairs. Glenn Edward Stanley, 37, of Winchester Avenue in Martinsburg, was arraigned on the second felony charge early Thursday evening. He is free on bail. A police investigation into Stanley began Aug. 20, when the president and vice president of the club's board of directors approached Martinsburg Police Department officers, saying they believed signatures had been forged on some checks.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - A Harpers Ferry, W.Va., woman was charged over the weekend with taking around $22,000 from the dental office where she previously worked, records state. Donna A. Brining, 56, of 2041 Carter Ave., was charged with embezzlement. She worked as the office manager at Dr. Randolph Evans' dental practice until she resigned on April 23, 2003, according to West Virginia State Police Trooper J.D. Bird, who investigated the case.