January 12, 2026: CEO Charged With Embezzling Over $5M From The Painted...

January 12, 2026: CEO Charged With Embezzling Over $5M From The Painted Turtle Camp for Children With Serious Medical Conditions

LAKE HUGHES, Calif. — The former CEO of The Painted Turtle, a nonprofit specialty camp for children with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions, has been charged with embezzling $5.2 million from the organization during his tenure from 2018-2025.

“Abusing a position of power to steal funds from a camp dedicated to helping children with serious medical conditions is an affront to both the law and our deepest values,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “My message is crystal clear: If you steal from the most vulnerable members of our community or the organizations that serve them, this office will use every tool the law allows to hold you fully accountable.”

Christopher L. Butler (dob 2/28/76) of Porter Ranch is charged in case 25CJCF08298 with 15 felony counts: nine counts of grand theft, five counts of forgery and one count of fraudulent use of a computer.

The case was filed on Dec. 29, 2025. Butler is being held on $835,000 bail.

His arraignment is set for Jan. 15 in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

If convicted as charged, Butler faces more than 18 years in state prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Steve Dickman of the White Collar Crime Division and remains under investigation by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation.

The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.