Huey Newton Arrested in Theft Case

Former Black Panther leader Huey Newton has been arrested and charged with stealing public funds in connection with an Oakland child care and nutrition program he once ran, Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp said Tuesday.

Newton, 43, was arrested at his home in Oakland Monday after a three-year investigation of discrepancies in financial records of his now-defunct Educational Opportunities Corp., the attorney general said in a statement.

Newton was charged with grand theft involving a $42,875 check obtained from the state by allegedly lying about the number of children enrolled in the program, embezzling money from the program and conspiring to obtain payroll checks by false pretenses, Van de Kamp said.

Officers with a warrant searched Newton’s home and found a shotgun and a loaded .45-caliber automatic pistol, Van de Kamp said. He said Newton will face additional charges of an ex-felon possessing a handgun.

Also arrested Monday was Ralph Leon Moore, 45, who was curriculum director of Newton’s program. Moore was charged with conspiracy to conceal and destroy public records.