Embezzler to Pay $50,000 to Charity

A 28-year-old Woodland Hills man accused of stealing more than $50,000 from a charitable foundation pleaded guilty Thursday to grand theft and agreed to pay back the money within a year.

Daniel J. Sonners, former marketing director for Retinitis Pigmentosa International, also pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor battery stemming from a fight with another foundation employee.

Sonners admitted that he stole $50,533 from the organization, which works to fight retinitis pigmentosa, which causes blindness.

Sonners entered the plea as his Van Nuys Municipal Court preliminary hearing was about to begin.

Five additional counts of possession of fraudulent checks were dropped as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors, Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Pargament said.

Sonners originally faced a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison. But under terms of the plea bargain, he will be on probation for up to 4 years and could spend up to a year in jail. As a condition of probation, Sonners was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to the charity within 20 days, Pargament said, adding that he must repay the balance within a year.

$20,000 Check

The foundation received a $20,000 check from Sonners late Thursday afternoon, a spokesman said.

If he violates the probation terms, Sonners could face up to 4 years in prison, Pargament said.

Municipal Judge Leslie Ann Dunn scheduled sentencing for Feb. 6 in Van Nuys Superior Court.

Sonners wrote 15 checks to himself from the charity’s account between June 30 and July 22, Pargament said. The charity’s chairman had signed the checks so that the corporation would be able to operate while she was out of town, Pargament said.

In addition to nearly wiping out the charity’s account, the theft left long-term contributors worried about the organization’s vulnerability, Pargament said.

“It knocked us out,” said Helen Harris, the foundation’s president. “We were in the throes of a major research campaign. It really sent us scrambling.

“I’m very excited that we were able to get him to plead guilty and force him to make restitution.”