January 13, 2026 – LAKE HUGHES, CA – Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office officials announce 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.

View press conference video below.

“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 (49) 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 December 29, 2025. Butler is being held on $835,000 bail.

His arraignment is set for January 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.

View video here.

The former CEO of a nonprofit specialty camp that served more than 200,000 children with serious medical conditions faces more than 18 years in state prison for embezzling over $5 million between 2018 and 2025. pic.twitter.com/w7AyVG4DXp

— Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office (@LADAOffice) January 13, 2026

Source: Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office