Huey Newton Faces Trial on Embezzlement
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OAKLAND — Former Black Panther Party leader Huey Newton, serving a two-year prison term for illegal weapons possession, on Friday was ordered tried on embezzlement charges relating to a now-defunct school operated by the party.
Newton and another school official, Mark Alexander, appeared in Oakland Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing, then were ordered held for trial on charges of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds at Oakland Community School.
Newton, 45, faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and Alexander seven years if convicted on the charges, which were brought by the state attorney general’s office.
The state alleges that Newton and Alexander diverted for their own use about $60,000 in state Department of Education funds that were supposed to support the school, according to Deputy Atty. Gen. Charles Kirk, who appeared for the state.
The school folded in 1982, the year of the alleged violations.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Roderic Duncan ordered Newton to answer 11 counts and Alexander six counts, and return to Superior Court for arraignment July 6.
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